Three wins in three matches. Sixteen goals scored, just one conceded. A delightful stat for the Indian women's hockey team which hasn't had too many sweeping results in a bunch for a while.
It's rest day at the Asia Cup in Kakimigahara, Japan, a breather before the quarters kick in on Thursday, and ESPN caught up with India captain Rani Rampal, fresh from a long afternoon nap, munching on crisps and sounding hopeful of a title.
India have, for the record, won the continental title only once, in 2004, and finished runners-up on two occasions. This time, they have begun their campaign on a dominant note, wrapping the league stage unbeaten, with nine points and as table toppers. A quick run through their scores so far: a 10-0 win against Singapore, a 4-1 thrashing of China, and a 2-0 victory against Malaysia.
The win over a wily, higher-ranked China particularly sticks out. Placed four spots above India, China struggled to get past the Indian defense and Rani's field goal in the 58th minute was to put the match past the world No. 8 side.
"It's after long that we've managed some consistent results. But this is just the start so we have to forget that these wins happened and head into the quarters with complete focus," Rani says. India play Kazakhstan, a side ranked at least 20 spots below them, in the quarters next.
The most recent change to the side to which the performances could be linked is the coming in of new coach, Harendra Singh. The Indian took charge of the team with absolutely no prior experience of having handled a women's team and the Asia Cup was to be his first test.
For the players, who've worked under foreign coaches over the past four years, it's a mild relief to be able to finally speak in the language of their thoughts.
"Most of the girls can understand English but find it difficult to express themselves through it," she says. "Now with Harendra sir, communication is no longer an issue and obviously he has a good understanding of Indian culture and players' mentality so that also helps a lot."
While speed was central to their former coach Sjoerd Marijne's plans, under Harendra, the thrust, says Rani, is on not messing up the basics.
"Once we're passing and receiving right, that takes care of 70-80% of our game. Also players now realise that unless they, in their heads, believe that they can win, it's not going to happen on the field. So there's a greater sense of belief in the team."
As the Indian team went through their group matches stacking up on the wins, they threw a half-glance at South Africa's progress at the African Cup of Nations. The weekend brought them the news they'd almost been dead certain of: South Africa's title win and a resultant India passage into next year's World Cup.
It diminishes the importance of India's eventual standing in the Asian competition, which acts as a qualifier to the World Cup. Of course, though, bragging rights always welcome.
"Honestly we knew all along that this would happen, that South Africa would win and we would qualify," Rani says. "But we want to win the Asia Cup and earn a qualification. World Cup kisi team ke khairat pe nahi, khud ke dum pe jaana chahiye (We should enter a World Cup not because of the mercy of another team but on our own merit)."