Kakamigahara (Japan),
Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur notched up a hat-trick as India hammered Kazakhstan 7-1 to enter the semifinals of the women’s Asia Cup hockey tournament here today.

Gurjit was in sublime form as she pumped in three goals (4th, 42nd and 56th minutes). Deep Grace converted two penalty corners (16th and 41st), while Navneet Kaur also scored twice (22nd and 27th).

India will take on defending champions Japan, while China will play South Korea in the semifinals on Friday. In the other quarterfinals today, top seeds China blew away Thailand 10-0, while South Korea overpowered Singapore 9-0. The hosts were given a tough fight by Malaysia but came through 2-0.

Vera Domashneva scored a field goal in the second minute to give Kazakhstan the lead. But India made amends with a penalty corner in the fourth minute, which Gurjit slotted past Kazakhstan goalkeeper Guzal Bakhavaddin.

The Rani Rampal-led forwardline was smart in its attacks, creating penalty corners to put the opponents under pressure. In the 16th minute, Deep Grace converted one to give India the lead.

Navneet scored two field goals in the span of five minutes as India pulled away from their lower-ranked opponents.

In the last two quarters, India kept up the attack, winning penalty corners. Deep Grace and Gurjit scored from two set-pieces in two minutes. With four minutes to go, Gurjit, 22, completed her hat-trick, taking her tournament tally to six goals.