India enters semi-finals of Men’s Junior Asia Cup with a 17-0 win over Thailand

Defending champions India became the first team to reach the semi-finals of the AHF Hockey Junior Men Asia Cup at Salalah on Sunday with yet another flattering win, its third in four games. India defeated Thailand 17-0. 

Earlier India had beaten Chinese Taipei 18-0 and Japan 3-1 besides playing a thrilling 1-1 draw against Pakistan. India is now at the top of the table with 10 points with 39 goals scored and conceded only two. 

When India took the field, a sizeable Indian crowd had gathered at the venue. It started well taking 1-0 lead in the first quarter. However, by  its scintillating performance saw it recording the second biggest win of the tournament so far.

The scorers for India were Angad Bir Singh (13’, 33’, 47’, 55’), Yogember Rawat (17’), Captain Uttam Singh (24’, 31’), Amandeep Lakra (26’, 29’), Araijeet Singh Hundal (36’), Vishnukant Singh (38’), Bobby Singh Dhami (45’), Sharda Nand Tiwari (46’), Amandeep (47’), Rohit (49’), Sunit Lakra (54’) and Rajinder Singh (56’).

 IndiaTeam began the contest on the front foot, attacking Thailand with regularity, but was unable to break through in the early exchanges. Thailand not only absorbed the pressure but also looked to attack India, who however edged ahead just before the end of the first quarter when Angad Bir Singh (13’) found the back of the net.

Early in the second quarter, India Captain Uttam Singh eased through the Thailand defense on the right before Yogember Rawat (17’) doubled the advantage. The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team were starting to take control of the contest, and before the half ended, Captain Uttam Singh (24’) also got on the scoresheet, scoring from close range. A couple of minutes later, Amandeep Lakra (26’) smashed home his shot from a Penalty Corner, as the Indian Colts led 4-0, and were showing no signs of slowing down. Soon after Amandeep Lakra (29’) scored his second from a Penalty Corner and at halftime the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team led 5-0.

Uttam Singh (31’) made it 6-0 in the first minute of the third quarter, rifling it into the top corner from the right, and moments later Angad Bir Singh (33’) too got his second for the night. India was dominating proceedings, and added another soon after when Araijeet Singh Hundal (36’) got on the scoresheet courtesy of a powerful hit from the right. India continued to attack, pushing Thailand deep into their half, and the pressure resulted in another goal, as Vishnukant Singh (38’) got his name on the scoresheet, making it 9-0. Just before the final break, Bobby Singh Dhami (45’) made it 10-0 when he converted a Penalty Corner.

The final quarter wore a similar look to the previous ones, with the Indian layers  attacking with great gusto as Sharda Nand Tiwari (46’), Amandeep (47’) and Angad Bir Singh (47’), all struck in quick succession to make it 13-0. A comeback seemed highly unlikely, but Rohit (49’) got into the act as well, making it 14-0 for India. There would be more to come as India were playing free-flowing hockey, and it was Sunit Lakra (54’), Angad Bir Singh (55’), and Rajinder Singh (56’) who added three more goals, making it 17-0. India eventually did not add to that scoreline and came away with an emphatic win, finishing the night on top of the standings in Pool A.

Prabhjot Singh