India Emerges as Champions in Junior Men’s Asia Cup Hockey against Pakistan with a 2-1 Lead

Team India goes on to win the final of the Junior Men’s Asia Hockey Cup 2-1 against Pakistan with goals from Angad Bir Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: 2023-06-02 09:50:12

The Indian men’s hockey team beat Pakistan in the Junior Men’s Asia Hockey Cup with a resounding 2-1 lead in the final. The goal from the Indian team came in the 13^th minute from Angad Bir Singh, followed by the second one in the 20^th minute by Araijeet Singh Hundal. And then finally Pakistan too managed one solo goal for their team in the 37^th minute from Abdul Basharat. The win assisted India to secure the fourth title. Earlier team India won the competition in 2015, 2008, and 2004. Whereas for Pakistan, the tournament wins from the team were achieved in 1996, 1992, and 1987.

In the first minute itself, India put all its talent back on the field with an offensive start and earned a penalty corner in their initial move. Sudeep Chirmaki tried to do his best from the left wing but the shot was a Pakistani defender halted the flow with his feet, and India lost its chance for a goal. In the sixth minute, again India could not convert another penalty chance It received as Pakistan’s goalkeeper saved the drag-flick from Sunit Lakra.

In the 12^th minute of the game, Angad Bir Singh from India struck straight from close range for a goal even after the Pakistan team’s goalkeeper deflected the shot from Araijeet Singh Hundal. The latter is the generation-next star for the Indian hockey team. He also helped India catch a lead by 2-0 following a goal on receiving a delivery and then power-shooting from the striking circle. Hundal took control of the ball by turning the hockey stick and punching it home.

India did get several chances repeatedly against Pakistan but the opponent’s defense could only keep the score to 2-0 at half-time. Pakistan did not give up and Abdul Basharat converted an assist from Abdul Shahid and pulled a goal in the 37^th minute. Their team members drove several attacks in the final quarter, which also benefitted them with three penalty corners one after the other. But Mohith Shashikumar from team India did a brilliant save in the 50^th minute, stopping the penalty corner deflect stroke from Arbaz Ayaz.