The Indian men’s under-21 hockey team beat Pakistan 5-3 in the final in Muscat. Araijeet Singh Hundal scored four of the five goals for India.
The Indian hockey team beat Pakistan 5-3 in the final to win the Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 in Muscat, Oman on Wednesday to successfully defend their title.
Araijeet Singh Hundal (4’, 18’, 47’, 54’) was in top form for India while Dilraj Singh (19’) scored the other goal. Pakistan’s captain Shahid Hannan (3’) and Sufyan Khan (30’, 39’) did their utmost to keep their team in the tie for the majority of the game.
The win handed the Indian colts, currently coached by two-time Olympic medallist PR Sreejesh, a record-extending fifth title (2024, 2023, 2015, 2008 and 2004) in the competition and also helped keep arch-rivals Pakistan from winning their fourth crown.
While India were still settling into the game, Pakistan skipper Shahid Hannan pounced on a stray ball in the shooting circle and beat Bikramjeet Singh in a one-on-one situation to steal a goal for Pakistan.
India responded immediately by earning a penalty corner and Araijeet Singh Hundal unleashed a powerful drag flick to the right top corner to restore parity. Both teams went on to trade circle entries without finding the back of the net till the end of the first quarter.
Within three minutes of the second quarter, India were awarded another penalty corner and Araijeet stepped up again, finding the gap between Pakistan’s goalkeeper Muhammad Janjua and the post man with a thunderous drag flick to give India the lead.
Following this, the Indian forwards relentlessly pressured Pakistan’s defense. Soon, Dilraj weaved past two defenders on the left wing and struck the board, extending India’s lead to 3-1.
As the first half was drawing to a close, Pakistan’s Sufyan Khan showcased his drag flicking skills, beating Bikramjit Singh in goal to make it 3-2.
Araijeet created two chances in quick succession as the third quarter began but Pakistani goalkeeper Muhammad Janjua pulled out amazing saves on both occasions to keep Pakistan in the match
Both teams went back and forth until Sufyan Khan, with six minutes left in the quarter, flicked the ball into the Indian goal from a penalty corner and ensured Pakistan headed into the last quarter level on score.
As soon as the final quarter began, India seized the initiative. Manmeet Singh skillfully maneuvered past his marker and found an unmarked Araijeet in front of the goal, who deflected the ball into goal to restore India’s lead and complete his hat-trick.
With ten minutes to go, Zikriya Hayat tried to launch a counter-attack but Indian goalie Prince Deep Singh rushed out to avert any danger.
With six minutes left in the game, India earned a penalty corner and employed a variation to free up Araijeet, who smashed the ball into the top right corner with his flick, making it 5-3 for India.
As the game headed to a close, Hannan Shahid carved out a significant goal-scoring opportunity but Prince Deep stood firm in goal, swatting away the attempt and sealing India’s victory
The victory also means that the Indian team remained unbeaten throughout the competition, scoring an astonishing 46 goals while conceding just eight.
This was the 11th edition of the under-21 hockey tournament.
