Japan Wins U-18 Field Hockey Title

Japan took the 3rd ever Under-18 woman's title at the Asia Cup  at a tourney held September 16-25, 2011 at  the Queen Sirikit National Hockey Stadium in Thailand.

The team won the 10-team tourney with a 1-0 win over the favoured team from China.

In front of a large crowd, the two top teams put on an outstanding display of field hockey, with many excellent chances to score, but even better goal keeping and defense being displayed. The lone goal of the match was score late in the second period with Japan’s Shimizu Minami (surname first) showing how to do a well-worked penalty corner routine. It was a fitting climax to what had been a high quality tournament which suggests that women’s hockey in Asia has a very bright future indeed.

India won the Bronze medal by defeating South Korea 3-0 in a match held before the Gold medal game. In fact, both South Korea and India had each won their pools, but were defeated in the semi-finals by Japan and China, respectively.

Final Results: 

1. Japan
2. China
3. India
4. South Korea
5. Malaysia
6. Singapore
7. Thailand
8. Sri Lanka
9. Kazakhstan
10. Chinese - Taipei

Individual Awards:
Top Scorer:  Nam So Ri of South Korea / Meisham Kiran Devi of India
Best Goalkeeper: Manlika Thonhongsa of Thailand
Player of the tournament: Nagai Haduki of Japan
Player of the final: Luo Tiantian of China