Women’s Champions Challenge II – Day 2: India and Belgium both recorded 8-1 victories in Pool A, while Pool B leaders Ireland and Ukraine could not be separated on Day 2 of the Women’s Champions Challenge II tournament, being held in the Russian city of Kazan.

In Pool A, India confirmed their place at the top of the table with a crushing 8-1 victory over Canada. India took an early lead, but Canada soon equalised before India scored seven times without reply to keep their 100% tournament win record intact. Ritu RANI scored a hat-trick for India, with Rani RAMPAL also scoring twice against a Canada team that now finds itself rooted to the bottom of Pool A. Belgium recovered from yesterday’s defeat against the Indians by thrashing Belarus 8-1, putting them in second place in Pool A. Belarus opened the scoring through Krestsina KULINKOVICH, but Belgium scored eight unanswered goals, with Dorianne MEUWESE hitting the target on no less than four occasions.  

In Pool B, the two winning teams from Sunday’s matches went head to head, with Ireland fighting back from a being a goal down to take a share of the points against Ukraine. Pool leaders Ireland fell behind to a 56th minute field goal from Maryna VYNOHRADOVA, but equalised three minutes later thanks to a penalty corner from Lizzie COLVIN. Ireland remain at the top of the table, ahead of Ukraine on goal difference. Host nation Russia played Malaysia in the final match of the day, as both teams went in search of their first points of the tournament. Both teams got their wish, but a 2:2 result only served to damage the chances of either team achieving a top two finish in the Pool which would result in a place in the 1-4 classification matches.

Full reports of the matches along with scoring information can be found below.

Tuesday is a tournament rest day, with the action resuming on Wednesday 24th June. That day will feature the final round of Pool matches, with Ireland taking on Malaysia in Pool B at 10.00 (GMT +3). That match is followed by another Pool B encounter, with Russia and Ukraine facing each other at 12.00. At 16.00, the first of two Pool A matches will begin, with India playing Belarus before the meeting between Belgium and Canada at 18.00.

You can find Pool Tables and official Match reports on the Champions Challenge II page of this website. To visit this page, click here.    

Match 5: India 8 defeated Canada 1
India confirmed their place at the top of Pool A with a crushing 8-1 victory over Canada. India took an early lead, but Canada soon equalised before India scored seven times without reply to keep their 100% win record in the tournament.

India opened the scoring in the sixth minute of the match when Deepika THAKUR scored from open play, and it was no less than they deserved. However, Canada were determined to put yesterday’s defeat against Belarus behind them and quickly went in search of an equaliser. It arrived in the tenth minute thanks to a field goal from Jessalyn WALKEY, competing in her first FIH level event. The match was evenly balanced for much of the half, but eventually India re-established their lead six minutes before half time when team captain Surinder KAUR scored from a penalty corner. Canada continued to battle for the remainder of the half and in the early stages of the second period, but could not find the equaliser they were searching for. Eventually, India increased their lead when Ritu RANI scored the first of her four goals through a penalty corner in the 54th minute, and Canada fell even further behind just three minutes later when Rani RAMPAL added a field goal. RAMPAL made the score 5-1 from the penalty spot nine minutes from the end of the match before field goals from RANI and Mamta KHARB emphasised India’s complete dominance of the second half. India completed the rout in the final minute of the match, when RANI scored her third goal with a penalty corner to seal a memorable victory.  


Match 6: Belgium 8 defeated Belarus 1
Belgium recovered from yesterday’s defeat against India by thrashing Belarus 8-1, a result which puts them into second place in Pool A. It was a superb performance from Belgium, which saw them fight back from being a goal down to claim a wonderful result against a Belarus side full of confidence following their defeat of Canada on Sunday.

Belarus started the game impressively, and took the lead in the 11th minute when Krestsina KULINKOVICH scored a well-taken penalty corner. However, that lead did not last long, with Dorianne MEUWESE levelling the scores with a field goal. Belarus were reduced to ten players in the 25th minute when Ryta ZHYLIANINA was given a Yellow Card for rough play. Five minutes later, Belgium took the lead and again it was MEUWESE who found the net, this time with a penalty corner to give her team a half time lead. The second half was totally dominated from start to finish by Belgium, who put their opponents under a huge amount of pressure throughout. Belarus player Iryna KAZACHOK was given a Yellow Card in the 38th minute, and Belgium immediately took advantage of the situation when Charlotte de VOS fired in a field goal to make the score 3-1. Dorianne MEUWESE completed her hat trick from open play in the 54th minute before scoring her fourth sixty seconds later with another field goal to give Belgium a 5-1 lead. Belarus could not contain the Belgium’s free-flowing attacking play, and conceded another three field goals in the last seven minutes. Charlotte de VOS found the target in the 63rd minute, before strikes from Jill BOON (65min) and Sofie GIERST (70min) ended the scoring.   


Match 7: Ireland and Ukraine drew 1-1
The two teams leading the way in Pool B went head to head, with Pool leaders Ireland coming from a goal down to take a share of the points against Ukraine. With both teams recording victories in their opening matches on Sunday and having a similar world ranking, it was always likely to be a closely fought encounter. That prediction was proven correct in a first half in which there was little to choose between the two sides. Ireland worked hard throughout the half in an attempt to break down a resilient Ukraine defence, but could not find a way through. However, the Irish back line was proving an equally difficult nut to crack for the Ukraine forwards, which resulted in goalless first half of the match.

The second half burst into life in the 56th minute, when Ireland fell behind to an open play strike from Maryna VYNOHRADOVA, who scored her second goal of the tournament. However, Ireland immediately went on the counter-attack, putting their opponents under considerable pressure before winning a penalty corner in the 59th minute of the match. A good pass from Nikki SYMMONS set up Lizzie COLVIN on the post who found the target, much to the delight of her team mates and Ireland Coach Gene Muller. There were no further goals in the contest, meaning that Ireland remain ahead of Ukraine at the top of the table on goal difference going into Wednesday’s final round of Pool matches. 


Match 8: Malaysia and Russia drew 2-2
The second Pool B game of the day was similar to the first, as two evenly matched teams played out a 2-2 result that did nothing to help either team’s chances of claiming a top two finish.

Malaysia took just six minutes to open the scoring, with Fazilla SYLVESTER SILIN slamming home a field goal to give her side a 1-0 lead. Malaysia seemed in control and looked untroubled by the Russian attack for most of the first half. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until five minutes before half time when Sabah KARI was given a ten minute Yellow Card suspension for progressive penalties. Russia punished their weakened opponents just before the break when Olga SHENTSOVA equalised from open play. Malaysia were back to full strength five minutes into the second half, but in the 45th minute first half hero SYLVESTER SILIN was given a ten minute Yellow Card suspension for dangerous play. Russia again made the extra player count and took the lead through Yulia ASHUROVA’s 50th minute penalty corner strike. However, Malaysia rescued the match in the 63rd minute thanks to a field goal from Nor Baini HASHIM, ensuring that the points would be shared. The result left both sides three points adrift of Ireland and Ukraine, ensuring that they would each need big victories in their final Pool matches if they are to have any chance of winning this tournament.

Women’s Champions Challenge II Day 2: Scores and Scorers

Match 5: Pool A – Canada v India 1:8 (1:2)
0-1 IND Deepika THAKUR FG 6m
1-1 CAN Jessalyn WALKEY FG 10m
1-2 IND Surinder KAUR PC 29m
1-3 IND Ritu RANI PC 54m
1-4 IND Rani RAMPAL FG 57m
1-5 IND Rani RAMPAL PS 61m
1-6 IND Ritu RANI FG 63m
1-7 IND Mamta KHARB FG 67m
1-8 IND Ritu RANI PC 70m

Match 6: Pool A – Belgium v Belarus 8-1 (2-1)
0-1 BLR Krestsina KULINKOVICH PC 11m
1-1 BEL Dorianne MEUWESE FG 14m
2-1 BEL Dorianne MEUWESE PC 30m
3-1 BEL Charlotte de VOS FG 38m
4-1 BEL Dorianne MEUWESE FG 54m
5-1 BEL Dorianne MEUWESE FG 55m
6-1 BEL Charlotte de VOS FG 63m
7-1 BEL Jill BOON FG 65m
8-1 BEL Sofie GIERST FG 70m

Match 7: Pool B – Ireland v Ukraine 1:1 (0:0)
0-1 UKR Maryna VYNOHRADOVA FG 56m
1-1 IRL Lizzie COLVIN PC 59m

Match 8: Pool B – Malaysia v Russia 2:2 (1:1)
1-0 MAS Fazilla SYLVESTER SILIN FG 6m
1-1 RUS Olga SHENTSOVA FG 35m
1-2 RUS Yulia ASHUROVA PC 50m
2-2 MAS Nor Baini HASHIM FG 63m