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The Indian Women’s Hockey Team registered an emphatic 5-1 win against Italy entering the Semi-finals of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 at Ranchi’s Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium on Tuesday.

Winning goals by the hosts were scored by Udita, Deepika, Salima Tete and Navneet Kaur. From Italy’s side, Camila Machin scored the lone goal in the 60th minute of the match.

In the pursuit of winning a Paris Olympics berth, India will take on mighty Germany of Pool A in the Semi-Finals on 18th January, while Japan will take on the USA in the other semi-finals.

After its confidence-building 3-1 win against New Zealand on January 14, India began the match with a magnanimous pace gaining a penalty corner in the first minute of the match itself.

Udita, who had scored a goal in the previous match also, took the strike to make a perfect shot to net the goal. After the 1-0 lead in the first minute team India confidently built on its game in the match.

Although the second quarter remained without any goal from either side, India continued its lead in the third quarter with marvellous goals by Deepika in the 41st minute followed by a brilliant field goal by Salima Tete.

Forward Lalremsiami set up India's second goal scored by Deepika with her brave foray into the striking circle, taking on Italian goalie Lucia Ines Caruso in a one-on-one tackle. A foul on the part of the Italian goalie fetched India a penalty stroke which was perfectly struck by dragflicker Deepika. 

Only moments later, Salima Tete, buoyed by the cheers of her home crowd drove into the right flank only to take a successful shot on goal. This goal put India ahead by 3-0, a comfortable position to be in entering the final quarter.

Despite Italy getting few chances to score in the final quarter after earning a penalty corner, India's solid defence did not let the ball reach the goal. In her 100th game, Udita scored her second goal in the 55th minute. She was also awarded the Player of the Match for her double.

India’s hopes to keep the match a clean sweep could not be realised as Italy’s Camila Machin scored a goal in the 60th minute of the match. The confident team India will now take on Germany in the Semi-Finals on January 18.