Muscat, Dec 4
India edged out Pakistan 5-3 in the final to emerge champions in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup Oman 2024 hockey championship at the Hockey Oman Stadium in Al Amerat on Wednesday night.
Star player Araijeet Singh Hundal struck four goals for India in the pulsating final between the traditional rivals of the game.
The match started with Pakistan taking the lead in the third minute itself with a field goal from Hannan Shahid. India equalised in the next minute when Araijeet Singh Hundal struck from a penalty corner.
In the second quarter, India came out strong to net two goals. Araijeet Singh gave India lead in the 18th minute from a penalty corner.
Dilraj Singh’s field goal in the next minute put India in a two-goal cushion at 3-1.
At the stroke of the half-time, Sufyan Khan brought Pakistan back to the match with a goal from a penalty corner. India led Pakistan 3-2 at the break.
Pakistan started from where they left in the third quarter by pushing hard for their equalising goal. Sufyan was clinical from another penalty corner as Pakistan made the score level at 3-3 in the 39th minute.
The equaliser forced India to make some rapid counter-attacks but Pakistan goalkeeper Muhammad Janjua stood firm to deny India.
India, coached by goalkeeping great PR Sreejesh, made a brilliant return in the fourth and last quarter.
HOT FORM
Araijeet Singh was in hot form as he put India in the lead in the 47th minute to make it 4-3. Pakistan also pushed for a goal in the quarter but Indian goalkeeper Sharda Nand Tiwari rose to the occasion along with some boisterous defending by his teammates.
Araijeet Singh made the result beyond doubt with another stunning goal, his fourth, from a penalty corner in the 54th minute.
India also earned more penalty corners towards the end but Pakistan defended well to avoid further goals.
The final moments were also well executed by the Indian players who had good control of the game.
Indian defence was also spot on their task as they conceded only two penalty corners to Pakistan compared to seven earned by India in the final.
In the placement matches, Japan beat Malaysia 2-1 to finish third in the tournament. Bangladesh finished fifth after beating China 6-3 to round off the top six teams of the tournament who qualified for the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup 2025 in India.
Thailand edged South Korea 3-2 in the shoot-out after 2-2 in full time and finished seventh.
Hosts Oman ended in ninth spot while Chinese Taipei were last.
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