Akashdeep stars in big victory

Bhubaneswar, June 10: Akashdeep Singh slammed a hat-trick as favourites India scored goals at will to thrash Uzbekistan 10-0 and storm into the semifinals of the FIH Series Finals hockey tournament here Monday.

Akashdeep’s goals came in the 11th, 26th and 53rd minutes, while Varun Kumar (4th, 22nd) and Mandeep Singh (30th, 60th) scored a brace each for India. Amit Rohidas (15th), Nilkanta Sharma (27th) and Gursahibjit Singh (45th) were the other goal getters for the winners.

India finished atop Pool A with an all-win record and will play the winner of the cross-over match between Japan and Poland in the semifinals on Friday, while USA, who topped Pool B, will take on the winners of the other cross-over game between Russia and South Africa.

The last Pool A match turned out to be a mismatch as the Indians controlled the proceedings from start to finish. The action was all in the Uzbekistan half as India attacked in numbers from the word go and secured as many as five penalty corners in the first four minutes, the last of which was converted by Varun to hand lead to the home team. Next was Akashdeep's turn to register his name in the scoresheet as he scored from a rebound from another short corner in the 11th minute. Four minutes later, Rohidas converted a penalty corner to make the scoreline 3-0 in India's favour.

It continued to rain goals in the second quarter as India scored four more to go into the breather with a handsome 7-0 lead. Varun scored his second in the 22nd minute from a field effort before Akashdeep found the Uzbek net with a reverse hit two minutes later. Young Nilkanta was not to be left behind as he scored from a rebound in the next minute from India's next short corner. Mandeep completed the first half rout, pushing in from close range after being fed by Ramandeep Singh.

Gursahibjit guided the ball into the net in the 45th minute after receiving a through pass from Sumit. Thereafter, Aksshdeep completed his hat-trick before Mandeep scored.