MUSCAT: Oman will take on Pakistan on Saturday in their third match of the 2024 Junior Asian Men’s Hockey Championship. The tournament will run until December 4. Oman and Pakistan match will start at 7 pm.
Other matches scheduled for Saturday will include a high-stakes clash between Japan and South Korea and the match will kick off at 12:15 pm in Pool A and in the same pool a showdown featuring India against Chinese Taipei begins at 4:45 pm. In Pool B, Bangladesh will face Malaysia in a critical match at 2:30 pm.
The Oman team will look to rebound after two tough losses. The national squad fell to Bangladesh 3-1 in their opening match and suffered a 9-1 defeat against Malaysia in their second game. Despite the challenging matchup against Pakistan, Oman’s players will aim for a stronger performance to gain some points in the group stage.
In Pool B, Pakistan have been a dominant force. They opened their campaign with a commanding 7-2 win over China and followed it up with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Bangladesh, solidifying their lead in the group standings. In Pool A, India remain as a strong contender as they began the tournament with a stunning 11-0 victory against Thailand. Their second game saw them narrowly edge out Japan 3-2 in a closely contested battle.
Meanwhile, South Korea outlasted Chinese Taipei in a thrilling 9-6 encounter, showcasing the competitive intensity of the group. The matches continue to draw excitement as teams vie for crucial points to secure top spots and advance to semifinals of the championship. The top six spots will secure their presence in the upcoming edition of the FIH Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup 2025 which will be played in India with an expanded competition format that will feature 24 teams for the very first time.
As hosts country, India have already secured their qualification in the FIH Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup 2025. Belgium, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Austria and Switzerland have booked their spots from Europe. Argentina, Canada and Chile have qualified from the Americas. Following the six qualifiers from Junior Asia Cup, three more teams from Oceania and Africa (each) will qualify for the World Cup to complete the qualification process in the upcoming few months.
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