Commonwealth Games: Indian women beat Ghana 5-0

Birmingham: Drag flicker Gurjit Kaur struck a brace as the Indian women's team started its campaign in the 2002 Commonwealth Games here with a comprehensive 5-0 win against minnows Ghana in a Pool A encounter here on Friday.

The Indian team, seeking to redeem themselves following a below-par performance in the FIH Women's World Cup in Netherlands and Spain earlier this month, made a tentative start, scoring a goal each in the first two quarters before slamming two goals in the third and finally wrapping things up with a goal in the fourth quarter.

Gurjit Kaur opened the scoring for India in the third minute when she slammed home a drag flick off a penalty corner to make ti 1-0 for India. Forward Neha made it 2-0 with a field goal in the 28th minute; Sangita Kumari made it 3-0 in the 36th minute before Gurjit converted a penalty stroke to make it 4-0 for India. Youngster Salima Tete scored the fifth goal for India four minutes from the final hooter.

The Indians dominated possession (52-48), though Ghana did well in the second half and almost came close to scoring a goal. The Indians were very aggressive and made 45 attacking circle penetrations but did not take enough shots at the goal. They also missed a number of chances.

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