Changzhou (China), Sep 5 (IANS) India made a rousing start to their campaign in the seventh Women’s Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament as skipper Rani Rampal led from the front with five goals for a 13-0 humiliation of North Korea here on Saturday.

India didn’t allow the Koreans to settle down and exerted pressure from the beginning. The technical supremacy of the Indians allowed them to score at ease.

India’s Preeti Dubey drew first blood as she slammed the ball past the goalkeeper in the 11th minute to open the score.

Jaspreet Kaur doubled India’s lead with a successful penalty corner conversion in the 20th minute. India kept pressing hard and struck the third goal through Navneet Kaur’s strike in the 24th minute.

Captain Rani, the ace striker of the senior team, made it 4-0 four minutes later with a field goal.

M. Lily Chanu penetrated the opponents defence and smacked the fifth goal in the 31st minute which was closely followed by another field goal by Punam Barla as the first half ended 6-0.

The second half continued with the same momentum as the Indian eves ruthlessly dominated the match and maintained constant pressure on the girls of North Korea.

India’s Rani brilliantly struck a hat-trick through a beautiful series of field goals in the 43rd, 44th and 46th minutes and took the team’s score line to 9-0.

Lilima Minz added the tenth goal in the 51st minute through a brilliant field goal. Later, India scored three goals in the 52nd, 64th and 70th minutes for a 13-0 triumph.

India’s next clash will be against Singapore on Sunday.