India keep qualifying hopes alive

Our Correspondent

India rekindled their chances of making it to the finals of the women's hockey World Cup next year when they beat France 5-0 in a Pool A qualifying match at Amiens, France, on Tuesday.

The victory, their second from five matches, swelled their points tally to seven and placed them behind England (18 points), Ukranie (10) and Ireland (9) in Pool A. A victory from their concluding pool match against Kazakhstan on Wednesday will improve their chances of figuring among the seven teams who will make it to the finals, to be held in Perth, in November-December 2002.

Mamta Kharb put India ahead in the 10th minute with a field goal.

In the second session, she scored again in the final minute of the match after Maimom Chanu (51st) -- from a penalty-corner and Sunita Kullu (58th and 65th) -- from penalty-strokes -- added to the tally.

In another match, in Pool B, Lithuania beat Malaysia 4-1 after leading 3-0 at half-time.

Giedre Gaidamaviciute (7th minute), Valda Povilaitye (27th) and Ausra Janutaite (69th) scored for the winners while Che Ibrahim (64th) got Malaysia's consolation goal.

In a Pool A match, England maintained their unbeaten run with a sound 5-0 thrashing of Uruguay.

Jenny Bimson put the English ahead in the second minute from a penalty-corner. Purdy Miller (9th), Jane Smith (25th), Tina Cullen (35th) and Mel Clewlow 55th -- penalty-corner -- were the other scorers.

In the concluding match of the day, Japan beat Canada 1-0 to register their fifth victory in Pool B.

Sakae Morimoto scored the only goal of the match from a penalty-corner in the 15th minute.

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