Dhaka, Feb 3 (PTI) Three players scored a hat-trick each after coming in as substitutes as India mauled Bhutan 12-0 in their opening match of the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship here on Friday.

Neha (45+2, 55th and 90th), Anita Kumari (50th, 69th and 78th) and Lynda Kom (61st, 63rd and 75th) netted three goals each after coming off the bench, as India completed the demolition job.

Also Read | Yasir Arafat to Serve As Pakistan Cricket Team Coach in Mickey Arthur’s Absence: Report.

The other goals were scored by Apurna Narzary (29th and 36th) and Nitu Linda (43rd).

It, however, took them around 30 minutes to break the deadlock, but once that was done, the floodgates opened.

Also Read | KIYG 2023: From Chak De India to Khelo India; Here’s the Story of Two Players With Same Name- Rajni Kerketa- in Jharkhand Women’s Hockey Team.

Kajol D'souza drove her way into the Bhutan box and squared it for Apurna, who poked it past a hapless Bhutan keeper for India's first goal in the 29th minute.

Head coach Maymol Rocky made an early change, bringing on Neha in place of Sumati Kumari, and India soon doubled their lead.

Apurna was again in the thick of things as she beat Bhutan keeper Norbu Zangmo, and calmly put it into the back of the net.

Substitute Neha soon made her mark as sent in a low cross for Nitu Linda to tap it in. Neha turned scorer two minutes into the first half added time, as India took a four-goal lead at the breather.

The Indians pumped in eight more goals in the second half to run over the Bhutanese whose defence crumbled while facing waves of Indian attack.

"We are absolutely elated over the performance of the girls today. They were all over the place, and played very well. But now, it's time to get ready for the next game," coach Maymol said after the game.

India next play hosts Bangladesh on Sunday in their second round-robin league match.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)