INDIA REIGN SUPREME

India reigned supreme in the 8th Men’s Junior Asia Cup following a 6-2 victory over neighbours and arch rivals Pakistan in the final at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium yesterday.

Harmanpreet Singh was the main protagonist and scripted Pakistan’s downfall with a burst of four penalty corner goals.

It was India who dictated terms early in the game with a disciplined attacking formation that had the Pakistani defenders led by team captain Ahmad Shakeel Butt back paddling. And it came as no surprise that the blue-shirted Indians took an amazing 2-0 lead.

India made five circle penetrations, earning three penalty corners and Harmanpreet was spot on in the 10th and 15th minutes.

On the opposite end, Pakistan attacking machinery of Muhammad Dilber, Muhammad Rizwan, Bilal Qadir and Shan Irshad threw everything they could and were rewarded with a penalty corner in the 27th minute, their first in the match and Muhammad Yaqoob pounced on a loose ball.

However, the Indians were far from finished and went 3-1 up as Harmanpreet once again added his name on the score sheet in the 30th minute. Pakistan head coach, Tahir Zaman, introduced reserve goalkeeper Muhammad Talal Khalid for the out-of-form Ali Haider whose confidence took a severe beating.

But nothing changed as India did nothing wrong on a warm night with Armaan Qureshi (44th, FG), Manpreet Singh Jr (50t, FG) and Harmanpreet making it 6-1 with his fourth penalty corner goal. Muhammad Dilber returned one for Pakistan (68th, FG) but it was simply too late for the three-time champions to change their fortunes.

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