India clinch Women's Champions Challenge II hockey

Kazan (Russia):

Rani Rampal continued her rampaging form and pumped in four goals to help India clinch the inaugural Women's Champions Challenge II hockey title with a thumping 6-3 win over Belgium in the final here on Sunday.

Leading 2-0 at half time, India added another four goals early in the second half, three of them coming from Rani's stick.

Rani scored in the 17th, 38th, 44th and 54th minutes. Veteran Saba Anjum (20th) and Chanchan Devi (49th) were the other scorers for the Indian team.

With this triumph, India qualified for Champions Challenge I tournament, to be held in October in South Africa, which is the qualifier for elite Champions Trophy next year.

Besides being the match-winner, Rani also finished as the event's top scorer and was named the Young Player of the tournament.

India skipper Surinder Kaur was named Player of the Tournament.

Both sides had their chances in the first 15 minutes, but India opened the scoring when Rani scored the first of her four goals in the 17th minute.

India extended the lead three minutes later through Saba's field goal.