New Delhi:
Last edition's silver medalist India dished out a commanding performance and defeated Canada 3-0 in a classification match to take the fifth position in the women's hockey event of the Commonwealth Games on Monday.
Ritu Rani (18th minute) scored in the opening half while Thokchom Chanchan Devi (66th) and Saba Anjum (70th) sounded the board after the breather to ensure a comfortable win for the home team and draw curtains to an an otherwise disappointing campaign in the Delhi Games on a high.
The Indian eves were by far the dominant side on display today as they controlled the proceedings throughout the 70 minutes.
India went for goals from the onset and got the lead in the 18th minute when Ritu scored with a fierce hit from top of the circle after receiving a pass from Chanchan Devi.
Thereafter, India mounted continuous raids into the rival citadel only to be denied by luck and an agile Canadian custodian Amanda Stone.
On three occasions, young Rani Rampal got golden opportunities to score but she could not get the better of her own luck and an agile Stone under the Canadian goal.
Just five minutes from the break, Rampal was unlucky not to have doubled the lead when her fierce reverse hit found the wood work.
India came out with same intensity in the second half, mounting attack after attack on the Canadian goal but their forwards lacked finishing.
However, lady luck finally smiled on the Indian eves as they scored two goals in the last four minutes to take the match out of Canada's reach.
Veteran Saba dazzled in the second half with brilliant runs from the flanks and some testing crosses.
Four minutes from the hooter, Chanchan Devi doubled India's lead, tapping the ball into the Canadian goal after receiving a cross from Saba from the left flank.
Saba once again came into action in the final minute of the match when she scored from a goal-mouth melee.
Although India won comfortably, penalty corners still continue to be a major concern for coach Sandeep Somesh as the eves failed to utilize a single one out of the six they have earned in the match.