Kakamigahara: India completed a perfect pool-stage campaign at the Asian Games 2026 with a 7-0 win over Singapore on Sunday, securing their fifth consecutive victory and finishing as Pool B leaders.
India will face South Korea in the semi-final on September 30. South Korea finished second in Pool A after beating Malaysia 2-1, while the other semi-final will see China take on Japan.
India finished the pool stage with a commanding goal difference of +63 after victories over Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Singapore. Their closest contest came against hosts Japan, whom they beat 3-1.
Against Singapore, Sunelita Toppo scored twice, while captain Salima Tete, Lalremsiami, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Nikki Pradhan and Deepika were also on target.
India dominated possession from the start and earned 27 penalty corners during the match. Singapore, however, defended deep and goalkeeper Felissa Lai repeatedly denied the Indian attack, keeping the score level through the opening quarter.
India finally broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Salima Tete converted a rebound after Navneet’s attempt was saved.
Sunelita then struck twice in quick succession. She finished from close range in the 22nd minute before deflecting Deepika’s penalty-corner flick two minutes later to give India a 3-0 lead.
Lalremsiami made it 4-0 in the 26th minute when Deepika’s flick took a deflection off her stick. Rutuja added another three minutes later, lifting the ball past the goalkeeper after capitalising on a defensive error.
India went into half-time 5-0 ahead after scoring five times in the second quarter.
Nikki Pradhan extended the lead in the 35th minute following a goalmouth scramble after consecutive penalty corners. Singapore then managed to keep India scoreless for much of the remainder of the match despite sustained pressure.
Deepika eventually completed India’s seventh goal in the 55th minute, finding the corner with a precise penalty-corner flick.
Singapore had a late opportunity when Qian Xiao Kwek broke through one-on-one with Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi, but her attempt went wide.
The 7-0 victory sealed India’s fifth win in five pool matches and sent them into the semi-finals against South Korea, with a place in the Asian Games final at stake.
