MUSCAT: The Men’s Junior Asia Cup Muscat 2024 will enter its crucial knockout phase on Tuesday as the semifinals are set to take place at the Hockey Oman Stadium in the Wilayat of Al Amerat. In the first semifinal, Pakistan will face Japan and the match start at 4:30 pm while in the following match India take on Malaysia at 7 pm.
Meanwhile, Oman will compete against Chinese Taipei in the 9th and 10th place playoff and Bangladesh will take on Thailand. South Korea will meet China in classification matches.
Japan have been in formidable form throughout the tournament, which doubles as a qualifier for the FIH Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup 2025. Their dominance was on full display in their commanding 9-1 win over Thailand in their final group match. The victory cemented their position at the top of their group, showcasing a strong defensive line-up. Prior to this, Japan also delivered a solid 2-0 victory over South Korea.
India continued to impress with their attacking prowess, overwhelming South Korea 8-1 in a masterclass performance. Arijit Singh opened the scoring in the third minute, setting the tone for a dominant display. India netted five goals in the first half and added three more in the second, with South Korea managing only a solitary goal through Kim Taehyun. In an earlier group match, India posted the largest victory margin of the tournament, dismantling Chinese Taipei 16-0.
In Pool B, Pakistan triumphed over Malaysia in a hard-fought 4-1 win. Rising star Sufyan Khan struck early in the third minute, giving Pakistan the lead. Malaysia's Adam Ashraf equalised in the second quarter, but Pakistan regained control as Khan restored their advantage with his second goal. Abdul Qayyum further extended the lead in the final quarter before Khan sealed his hat-trick, ensuring a comprehensive victory for Pakistan.
In earlier group action, Malaysia and Bangladesh drew 2-2, while Oman fell to a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Pakistan.
The stakes are high, as the top six teams in the tournament will qualify for the FIH Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup 2025, to be held in India. The upcoming edition of the World Cup will feature an expanded format with 24 teams marking a historic milestone for the competition.
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