MUSCAT: Boby Singh Dhami hit three goals as India powered past South Korea 9-1 to enter the Men’s Junior Asia Cup hockey championship final in Salalah on Wednesday.
India will meet the winners of the second semifinal between Pakistan and Malaysia in the title showdown on Thursday.
India, who emerged Pool A toppers ahead of Pakistan and Japan, showed their intentions clear by slowly taking control of the first semifinal against South Korea.
At the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex, Sunit Lakra put India ahead in the 13th minute with a brilliant field goal.
Star player Araijeet Singh Hundal made his mark as India went ahead 2-0 in the 19th minute.
After the half-time break, India quickly returned to business and Boby Singh Dhami scored to make it 3-0 in the first minute itself.
In the 34th minute, Angad Bir Singh was on target as India extended the lead to 4-0.
Four minutes later, Uttam Singh joined the goal-scoring list as India moved 5-0 ahead against a hapless South Korean defence.
Dhami found his second goal in the next minute as India netted their sixth field goal.
The Koreans finally succeeded in breaching the Indian defence as Keonyeol Hwang struck from a penalty corner in the 46th minute to make it 6-1.
However, Vishnukant Singh scored India’s first penalty corner goal of the match in the 51st minute to power their lead to 7-1.
Four minutes later, Dhami netted his third and India raced to 8-1.
In the 57th minute, Sharda Nand Tiwari made it 9-1 from a penalty corner to complete a dominant victory for India.
BANGLADESH WIN
In the placement match for 5-8th positions, Bangladesh beat Thailand 4-1 late on Tuesday.
In the first placement match on Tuesday, Japan thrashed hosts Oman 8-0. With this result, Japan will play for the 5/6th place, while the home team will play for the 7/8th Place on June 1.
The second match for the definition of the 5-8th place was between Bangladesh (third in Pool B) and Thailand who finished fourth in Pool A.
At the Sultan Qaboos Youth Centre pitch, Bangladesh were on to the task in the first minute itself with a goal by Muhammad Ali.
In the 10th minute, Amirul Islam raised the lead to 2-0 from a penalty corner.
Thailand, coached by Jung Chul Kim, pressed ahead in the second quarter and Kritsana Phumee netted from a penalty corner for them in the 17th minute.
Bangladesh immediately sprang into action and Muhammad Hasan struck their third goal to make it 3-1 in the 18th minute.
The Thai players could not make further inroads into Bangladesh defence in the remaining period of the match.
Muhammad Hasan’s strike from a penalty corner in the 57th minute completed the 4-1 scoreline for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh will play against Japan and Thailand will play against Oman for the fifth and sixth places, while the other two teams will play for the seventh and eighth places.
Bangladesh goal-scorer Muhammad Ali won the player of the match award.
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