Drag-flick specialist Supriya produced a standout performance, scoring a hat-trick from penalty corners as defending champions India stormed into the final of the AHF Junior Women’s Asia Cup 2026 with a commanding 5-1 victory over South Korea here on Saturday.
India, who controlled the contest for large periods, broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Madhu Sidar capped a well-worked attacking move to put the holders ahead.
The lead gave India greater confidence and they intensified the pressure in the second quarter. A penalty corner in the 17th minute brought Supriya into action, and the drag-flick specialist made no mistake, firing a precise effort past the Korean defence to double India’s lead.
India continued to dominate possession and territory, and their sustained pressure produced a third goal in the 21st minute. A well-weighted aerial ball found an Indian winger, whose accurate cross was clinically converted by Sukhveer Kaur to make it 3-0.
South Korea attempted to respond before the interval but struggled to break through a composed Indian defence, leaving the defending champions with a comfortable three-goal advantage at half-time.
India resumed with the same intensity and extended their lead in the 33rd minute. Another penalty corner gave Supriya the opportunity to strike again, and she duly delivered with another clinical drag-flick to make it 4-0.
South Korea finally found a way through in the 41st minute, with Yuri Jeong converting a set-piece to pull one goal back. But any hopes of a Korean revival were quickly extinguished as India tightened their defensive organisation and continued to threaten on the counter.
The holders put the result beyond doubt in the 56th minute when they won another penalty corner. Supriya stepped up once again and completed her hat-trick with a composed finish, sealing a convincing 5-1 victory.
India will now await the result of the second semi-final between hosts China and Japan to discover their opponents in the title clash. The defending champions will be aiming to cap their campaign with another successful title defence.
