Lucknow’s Mumtaz Khan nets four goals for India
LUCKNOW: Lucknow’s own Mumtaz Khan struck four goals as Indian women’s hockey team crushed Thailand 9-0 to qualify for the semi-finals of the Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday. Men’s team also beat Hong Kong 21-0 to finish top in Pool A.
In their final Pool B match, the Junior Women’s Team beat Thailand 9-0 as goals came thick and fast throughout the match. The Indians scored three goals in the first period followed by four goals in the second period, while the third period saw India score two more goals.
Mumtaz after drawing the first blood in the third minute went on scoring in the fourth, 14th and 24th minute. She was well supported by Sangita Kumari (14’, 15’), Lalremsiami (4’), Deepika (12’) and Ishika Chaudhary (25’).
In their first match of the day, men’s team didn’t give Hong Kong China any breathing space scoring 21 goals in the match. Skipper Vivek Sagar Prasad scored the first of the nine goals in the first minute itself. He doubled the tally in the fourth minute followed by goals from Rahul Kumar Rajbhar and Rabichandra Moirangthem. It was Mohammad Alishan’s three goals in two minutes that took the opponents by surprise. At the half time India were leading 9-0.
The story wasn’t any different in the second period as India scored seven goals with two apiece from Mohammad Alishan and Shivam Anand and one each from Rahul Kumar Rajbhar, Sanjay and Yashdeep Siwach. While conceding none, Indian side piled up five more goals in the third period to register yet another dominating win.
The team then came up with another impressive performance beating South Korea 12-5 in their last group match. The two sides who were unbeaten throughout the tournament looked equals until the sixth minute as score-line read 2-2. But India changed gears hitting the back of the net thrice in next three minutes to lead first period 5-2. Second period saw Indian side consolidating their lead with four more goals to South Korea’s solitary as the scoreboard read 9-3.
The final period was no different as the Vivek Sagar Prasad led team scored three more to South Korea’s two ending the match at 12-5 ending the league stage on top of their Pool.
Now, Indian men’s take on Pakistan/Bangladesh in the first semi-final on Saturday, whereas women’s will take on Malaysia in their semi-final also on Saturday. The five-day tournament is a qualifying event for Youth Olympic Games 2018 to be held at Buenos Aires, Argentina which will follow the futuristic Hockey 5’s format.