India smashed Uzbekistan 19-0 in the opener, the biggest margin in Asian Games history. Deepika Sehrawat’s eight‑goal haul came in the 8th, 22nd, 25th, 33rd, 36th, 38th, 41st and 54th minutes, a record for a single match.
The turning point was the 11th‑minute penalty corner that sparked a blistering rhythm; Ishika Chaudhary later added a hat‑trick in the 11th, 42nd and 54th minutes.
Sehrawat said the goal was a team thing, praising the corners and focusing on improving with every game. "It’s not about the individual milestone, we’re about the next match," she said.
Goalkeeper Savita Punia celebrated her 320th cap, tying with Vandana Katariya as the joint most‑capped Indian woman hockey player.
India now targets gold and direct Olympic qualification, with Indonesia slated to face them on Monday.