Torneo del Centenario 2023 hockey: India women beat Spain 3-0 to win title

The Indian women’s hockey team defeated hosts Spain 3-0 to win the three-nation Torneo del Centenario 2023 tournament in Terrassa, Barcelona, on Sunday.

Vandana Katariya (22’), Monika (48’) and Udita (58’) scored to help India stay unbeaten in the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation International Tournament 2023.

India, eighth in the FIH women’s hockey rankings, started the tournament with a 1-1 draw against England and held Spain to a 2-2 stalemate in the next match. A Lalremsiami hat-trick helped India to a 3-0 win over England on Saturday and lifted the team to the top of the table.

Spain needed a win on Sunday to topple India from the top spot.

Following Sunday’s win, India topped the standings with eight points from four matches while Spain concluded the tournament with four points from their four matches - the same as England.

The Indian hockey team started the match with positive intent but could not get the breakthrough in the first quarter despite creating chances.

The deadlock, however, was finally broken in the second period. A field goal by Vandana Katariya in the 22nd minute helped India to a 1-0 lead heading into the half-time break.

Both India and Spain, world No. 7, were defensively sound in the third quarter. Monika, who was handed a green card at the end of the second quarter, came back on the field and doubled India’s lead in the 48th minute through a field goal.

Spain committed the numbers forward in search of a response in the final 10 minutes of the match. However, Indian defender Udita made it 3-0 with two minutes to go for the final hooter and put the game to bed.

The Indian women’s hockey team will be seen in action next at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China, from September 23 to October 8.