India women favourite against Ireland: Gurbaj Singh

India women played their best hockey of the FIH World Cup in London to beat Italy 3-0 in the crossover match and book their place in the quarter-finals of the showpiece event. A 9th-minute goal put India ahead early, and Neha Goyal added the cushion in the last minute of the third quarter. Vandana Katariya then put it beyond Italy with a 55th-minute strike at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in the England capital.It's for the first time since Madrid 1978 that India are among the top eight of a World Cup. They finished seventh 40 years ago.India bossed the game and never allowed Italy to find a footing in the match, blocking the counter-attacks that the Italians rely on so heavily.India will play Ireland in the quarter-finals, having lost to the same opponents in the pool stage of the tournament.