India juniors pip Australia, in Johor Cup semis

JOHORBAHRU.MALAYSIA: The Indian junior men’s hockey team recorded its fourth successive victory at the Sultan of Johor Cup with a 5-4 win over defending champions Australia, assuring a semi-final spot.

The win has also helped India top the pool.

India made a dominating start to the game. Though their initial chance of scoring from a PC went amiss, Gursahibjit Singh scored a fine field goal to give India 1-0 lead in the 5th minute.

The team built on a good start to score three more back-to-back goals in the 11th, 14th and 15th minute through Haspreet Singh, Mandeep Mor and Vishnukant Singh respectively.

The 4-0 lead at the end of the first quarter was a major setback for the defending champions.

However, India faltered in their defence in the second quar- ter only to give away an easy goal through a penalty stroke in the 18th minute.

Damon Steffens, who scored the first goal for the Australian team, ended up scoring the second goal too when an Indian infringement inside the circle saw them concede a PC in the 35th minute, narrowing the goal deficit to 4-2.

Though Shilanand Lakra scored in the 43rd minute to take India’s lead to 5-3, Australia put India through some tense moments as they appeared to make a late recovery, by stretching India’s defence.

In the 59th minute, the pressure to defend the scoreline saw India colts give away another penalty stroke which was easily converted by Steffans, taking the goal difference to just one. But India held their nerves to finish the match in their favour.

India will next take on Britain in their fifth match on October 12 (Friday).

INDIA WOMEN THRASH VANUATU IN YOUTH OLY

BUENOS AIRES: India’s under-18 women’s hockey team hammered Vanuatu 16-0 in its third match of the five-a-side competition at the Youth Olympics.

Forward Mumtaz Khan (8th, 11th, 12th, 15th) scored four times and Chetna scored thrice (6th, 14th, 17th) to help India achieve the dominating win. In-form striker Lalremsiami opened India’s account scoring in the second minute. Thirty seconds later, Reet scored India’s second and a minute later Salima Tete made it 3-0 in just four minutes of the first period. Baljeet Kaur then put her name on the scoresheet twice in the fifth minute making it 5-0. Chetna scored her first in sixth minute before Reet doubled her tally to take India to 7-0.

Mumtaz (8th) and Lalremsiami (10th) also scored before the first period. The second period was no different as India continued to add to Vanuatu’s misery.