Drag-flick specialist Supriya scored a penalty-corner hat-trick as defending champions India defeated South Korea 5-1 in the AHF Junior Asia Cup semifinal.
Defending champions India secured a spot in the final of the AHF Junior Asia Cup with a commanding 5-1 victory over South Korea in the first semifinal in Moqi, China, on Saturday.
Drag-flick specialist Supriya led the charge for India, converting three penalty corners to register a hat-trick in a dominant team performance.
After a cagey opening phase, India broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Madhu Sidar finished off a well-constructed attack. Supriya doubled India's lead four minutes later with a precise penalty-corner drag-flick.
In the 21st minute, India made it 3-0 after a well-directed aerial ball found an Indian winger, whose cross into the circle was turned in by Sukhveer Kaur. India preserved their three-goal advantage through to the interval.
India kept up the momentum after the break as Supriya scored her second goal from a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. South Korea pulled one back in the 41st minute through Yuri Jeong from a set-piece.
Supriya capped off her display in the 56th minute, converting another penalty corner to complete her hat-trick and seal the 5-1 victory. India will face the winner of the second semifinal between hosts China and Japan in the summit clash.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Hockey. Photo courtesy The Hindu Hockey.