Hockey Olympic Qualifiers: Defender Udita happy with her purple patch and the chance to convert PCs

Ranchi, Jan 17 (IANS) A goal on her birthday and two in her 100th International match, the Indian team's defender Udita Duhan is going through a purple patch and the 25-year-old said she would love to continue her scoring spree in the semifinal against Germany in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers on Thursday.

In 97 starts before the event in Ranchi, Udita had scored only eight goals. In three matches since, she has been successful thrice, becoming the darling of the crown that had packed the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro-Turf Hockey Stadium here.

India's twin wins against New Zealand and Italy in the Hockey Olympic Qualifiers will always be close to Udita's heart as she helped the team win both the matches.

On Tuesday, after scoring a brace of goals against Italy, the 25-year-old said she was happy to have contributed to India's victories that helped the team qualify for the semifinals.

"These two matches will be very memorable for me but more important for me is not we won both the matches