

India Thrash Singapore 25-0, Storm Into U18 Asia Cup Semi-finals as Pool A Winners

The Indian U18 Women's Hockey Team delivered one of the most dominant performances of the U18 Asia Cup 2026, dismantling Singapore 25-0 in their final Pool A match to finish the group stage unbeaten and secure top spot in Kakamigahara, Japan.
Having already booked a place in the semifinals with victories over Malaysia and Korea, India entered the contest looking to maintain momentum. What followed was an extraordinary attacking exhibition, with ten different players getting on the scoresheet and the team scoring in every quarter to register one of the biggest victories of the tournament.
At the heart of the rout was striker Nousheen Naz, who produced a sensational seven-goal performance, while Geethasri Nammi added five goals and captain Sweety Kujur contributed four as India overwhelmed Singapore from start to finish.
The result ensured India completed the group stage with a perfect record of three wins from three matches and nine points from a possible nine.
The match was effectively over within the opening few minutes as India imposed themselves immediately. Captain Sweety Kujur opened the scoring in just the second minute, setting the tone for what would become a relentless attacking display. Nousheen Naz doubled India's advantage in the eighth minute before Geethasri Nammi and Nousheen struck again during the 13th minute, leaving Singapore struggling to cope with India's pace, movement and attacking intensity.
The Indian forwards repeatedly penetrated the circle, while the midfield ensured a constant supply of opportunities.
By the end of the opening quarter, India had already established complete control of proceedings.
If there was one player who symbolised India's dominance, it was Nousheen Naz. The 15-year-old forward continued her outstanding form in the tournament with a remarkable seven-goal haul. After opening her account in the first quarter, she added goals in the 13th, 17th and 18th minutes to complete a first-half hat-trick and effectively put the contest beyond doubt.
However, she was far from finished.
Nousheen returned after halftime to score again in the 40th minute before adding two more goals in the closing stages in the 52nd and 58th minutes. Her movement inside the circle, anticipation and clinical finishing repeatedly troubled the Singapore defence.
Having already starred in India's victories over Malaysia and Korea earlier in the competition, Nousheen is rapidly emerging as one of the standout performers of the tournament.
While Nousheen grabbed the headlines, she was not alone in delivering a memorable performance. Geethasri Nammi was named Player of the Match after scoring five goals and constantly creating problems for Singapore. She opened her account in the 13th minute before adding another just before the end of the first half.
The midfielder then exploded into life during the final quarter, scoring three more goals in a devastating spell to complete her five-goal performance.
Captain Sweety Kujur also led by example. The skipper scored the opening goal of the match and added further strikes in the 24th, 38th and 45th minutes to finish with four goals.
Her leadership and attacking contributions have been a key feature of India's impressive campaign so far.
One of the most encouraging aspects of India's victory was the spread of goals throughout the squad. Priyanka Minz recorded a hat-trick with goals in the 22nd, 37th and 53rd minutes. Diya, Nancy Saroha, Shruti Kumari, Pushpa Manjhi, Rashmeen Kaur and Sandeepa Kumari also found the back of the net, highlighting the depth within the Indian squad.
In total, ten different players scored during the match. The variety of goals reflected India's attacking flexibility, with strikes coming from penalty corners, field play and quick transitions. Singapore simply had no answer to the relentless pressure.
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Beyond the scoreline, the victory sends a strong message to the rest of the tournament. India have now scored 30 goals across their three group-stage matches while maintaining a perfect winning record. The team opened its campaign with a 2-1 win over Malaysia before defeating Korea 3-1 in a crucial clash that secured qualification for the semifinals.
The 25-0 demolition of Singapore capped off an excellent pool-stage performance and underlined India's status as one of the favourites for the title.
Equally impressive has been the balance within the team. While the attack has produced goals freely, India's defence has remained disciplined and organised, conceding just two goals across three matches.
With Pool A wrapped up, India now turn their attention to the knockout phase. The identity of their semifinal opponents will be determined once the remaining Pool B fixtures conclude. Regardless of who they face, confidence within the Indian camp will be extremely high following such a commanding group-stage campaign.
The performances of Nousheen Naz, Geethasri Nammi and captain Sweety Kujur have provided plenty of optimism, while the team's overall attacking depth has been among the biggest positives of the tournament.
After topping Pool A with maximum points and producing a record-breaking performance against Singapore, India have firmly established themselves as genuine contenders for the U18 Asia Cup 2026 title.
The challenge now is to carry that momentum into the semifinals and move one step closer to continental glory.
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