India beat Pak 3-1, enter final
DHAKA: Manvir Singh struck twice in the second half before Sumeet Passi headed home a clinical pass as defending champions India breezed past Pakistan 3-1 to sail into the final of the SAFF Suzuki Cup, here on Wednesday.
After a goalless first-half, Manvir scored his first in the 49th minute only to double the score-line twenty minutes later. Substitute Passi sealed the fate of the match in the 83rd minute. For Pakistan Hassan Bashir reduced the margin in the 88th minute.
India will now meet Maldives in the summit clash on Saturday. Maldives made short work of Nepal 3-0 in the first semi-final.
The first goal came off a brilliant counter-attack. Ashique Kuruniyan ran past everyone down the left and unleashed a low cross which was gleefully tapped in by Manvir to set the Indian fans berserk. If that was good, the second goal was even better.
Lalliazuala Chhangte who replaced Nikhil Poojary in the 68th minute made an immediate impact as India doubled the lead. The super-sub made a blistering run down the middle of the pitch, sidestepped two defenders and passed it to Vinit Rai.
The midfielder on turn rolled it to Manvir who blasted it home from top of the box. However, following a challenge, Manvir was substituted as Stephen Constantine brought in Sumeet Passi. NOIDA: Arjun Prasad lists his unusual route to the professional ranks to his upbringing. One of the virtues of growing up in an army setup is the planning that goes into every aspect of the household. The promise Arjun showed as an amateur meant special care was taken by father, Brigadier Nikesh Nandan.
Four-under 140, and still with a share of the lead after Day II of the QA Infotech Open at the Noida Golf Course, Arjun was the first Indian to secure his card on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and Asian Tour almost simultaneously. He went to Q-school as an amateur at the start of last season, unsure of the outcome, but turned pro after making the grade.
Those couple of weeks in January were trying, but with father a phone call away made the wait easier for Arjun, yet to turn 18 then. “Friend, philosopher and guide,” he said of his father. Despite the demands of his profession, the Brigadier learnt golf after Arjun started playing at eight-year of age to ensure he could be with his son whenever the chance arose.
The connectivity in Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir), where Arjun’s father is posted, isn’t essentially good but father-son will be on the phone. Unlike the others, the Noida Golf Course is yet to test the 19-year-old but sharing his thoughts helps ease the mind, and has become a norm. “Now or even when I have had a bad day, listening to dad’s inputs helps, “the youngster said.
It has been a steady rise up the charts for the boy from Patna. After playing most of 2017 on the Asian Tour, which did not yield much save for experience, Arjun secured his card on the PGTI through the season’s last four events. This year, three top 10s have placed him No 22 on the order of merit.