Junior Men’s Asia Cup Hockey: India emerge champions, beat Pakistan 2-1 in final

India’s junior males’s hockey group maintained its continental supremacy as a result of it beat arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 to emerge Asia Cup champions proper right here on Thursday.

Angad Bir Singh (thirteenth minute) and Araijeet Singh Hundal (twentieth) scored for India whereas Pakistan managed to tug one once more by the use of Abdul Basharat (thirty seventh).

This was India’s fourth title, having earlier acquired the match in 2004, 2008 and 2015. Pakistan have acquired the match in 1987, 1992 and 1996.

Congratulations to the Indian Junior Men’s Team for clinching Gold and asserting themselves as a result of the Best in Asia throughout the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #AsiaCup2023 #GoldToIndianColts#GloryToIndianColts pic.twitter.com/Bk1xNlARht

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 1, 2023

India went on the offensive from the first minute as they shortly earned a penalty nook by the use of their first switch. It was Sudeep Chirmako, who entered from the left wing and positioned the toes of a Pakistani defender nonetheless the next likelihood went abegging.

India’s failure to rework penalty nook as soon as extra received right here to light throughout the sixth minute when Sunit Lakra’s drag-flick was saved by the Pakistani goalkeeper.

However throughout the twelfth minute of the opening quarter, India drew first blood when Angad Bir Singh tapped one dwelling from shut range after Araijeet Singh Hundal’s shot was deflected off the goalmouth melee.

Hundal, considered one of many brightest skills amongst Indian hockey’s Gen-Next, elevated the lead to 2-0 as he acquired a provide on the centre of the putting circle. He managed and took a flip and smashed the ball dwelling.

India made repeated raids into the Pakistan defensive third nonetheless the tip was lacking on most occasions while they took a healthful 2-0 lead at half-time.

However, Pakistan pressed arduous after the breather and it was Abdul Basharat, who pulled one once more throughout the thirty seventh minute when Abdul Shahid set the earlier up with a great assist.

The final quarter seen Pakistan make a flurry of assaults with as they acquired on the very least three penalty corners in quick succession.

In the fiftieth minute, Indian custodian Mohith Shashikumar made a diving save when Arbaz Ayaz tried to deflect a penalty nook from the left side of the Indian objective.

They acquired one different penalty nook nonetheless Nadeem Khan’s strive was off-target. The Indians managed to stave off the waves of assault after which did properly adequate throughout the final moments to take care of their slender one-goal lead intact.