Skipper Rani Rampal scored a hat-trick as title contenders India outplayed Thailand 5-0 to storm into the semi-finals of the women's hockey competition at the 18th Asian Games here yesterday. After a barren and action-less first two quarters, the Indians got into the groove and scored five goals after the change of ends through Rani (37th, 46th and 56th minutes), Monika (52nd) and Navjot Kaur (55th) to register their fourth consecutive win.

With an unbeaten record under its belt, the Indian women's team finished on top of Pool B with 12 points from four wins ahead of defending champions South Korea, who they had defeated 4-1 in their penultimate pool encounter. The first few minutes of the opening quarter saw Thailand maintain most of the possession but it was India who had an opening in the fifth minute when captain Rani's reverse shot from the right flank went just wide of the goal post.