WOMEN'S ACT: TWO-GOAL SANGITA STEERS INDIA TO WIN OVER MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia got their 2024 Women's Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) campaign off to a losing start with a 4-0 thumping by hosts India at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar today.

Defending champions India shot into a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute through a Sangita Kumari penalty corner goal.

The penalty corner setpiece proved to be a bane for coach Mohamed Nasihin Nubli's charges as the hosts scored two such goals in as many minutes through Preeti Dubey in the 43rd minute and Udita a minute later.

Sangita was on target again with a field goal five minutes before the end to ensure a stylish win for coach Harendra Singh's women.

The fixture list doesn't get any easier for Malaysia, though, as they will be up against 2024 Olympic Games silver medallists China tomorrow, followed by matches against three-time champions South Korea on Thursday (Nov 14), Japan on Saturday (Nov 16) and Thailand on Sunday (Nov 17).

In other matches today, Japan and South Korea drew 2-2 while China hammered Thailand 15-0.

With the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals, the bottom two sides will clash for the fifth-sixth placing.

Last year, Malaysia, also known as the Malaysian Tigress, ended the Women's ACT in fifth place after edging Thailand 1-0 in Ranchi, India.

Although his team lost, Mohamed Nasihin said he was generally satisfied with their performance, as most players had been playing together again since the tour in Wales last August.

"Tactically, they were also very good, especially in defence, and players had opportunities to score goals. But what’s important now is for the players to focus on recovery for the match against China tomorrow," he said in a video shared by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation with the media.

-- BERNAMA