India drub Thailand to storm into semis

Holders register a dominating 17-0 victory in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 in Salalah

Defending champions India stamped their superiority in a clear-cut manner as they demolished Thailand 17-0 in their concluding Pool A match to storm into the semi-finals of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023, being played at the Salalah Sports Complex on Sunday night.

The scintillating performance from Indians meant they remained unbeaten in all the four pool matches and scored a total of 39 goals while conceding just two.

Pakistan, who are also in the same pool, take on Japan on Monday night and will be hoping to top the pool. They have so far scored 25 goals and conceded just two.

The scorers for India were Angad Bir Singh (13’, 33’, 47’, 55’), Yogember Rawat (17’), captain Uttam Singh (24’, 31’), Amandeep Lakra (26’, 29’), Araijeet Singh Hundal (36’), Vishnukant Singh (38’), Bobby Singh Dhami (45’), Sharda Nand Tiwari (46’), Amandeep (47’), Rohit (49’), Sunit Lakra (54’) and Rajinder Singh (56’).

India took time to settle and it was only in the final minutes of the first quarter did they break the deadlock through Bir Singh.

Early in the second quarter, Rawat (17’) doubled the advantage while captain Uttam Singh (24’) got himself on the scoresheet to make it 3-0. A couple of minutes later, Amandeep Lakra (26’) smashed home his shot from a penalty corner and got his second three minutes later by converting another penalty corner.

India led 5-0 at the interval. Uttam (31’) made it 6-0 in the first minute of the third quarter, and moments later Bir Singh (33’) got his second for the night. Hundal (36’) got on the scoresheet, courtesy a powerful hit from the right and Vishnukant (38’) made it 9-0. Just before the final break, Dhami (45’) made it 10-0 through a penalty corner.

In the final quarter, Indians smashed seven more goals with Tiwari (46’), Amandeep (47’) and Bir Singh (47’), finding the net in quick succession. Rohit made it 14-0 and Sunit Lakra (54’), Bir Singh (55’), and Rajinder Singh (56’) added three more goals, to complete a 17-0 rout.

Earlier, in a Pool B match, South Korea completed their league round with a 3-1 win over Bangladesh to finish second in the pool. Malaysia meet hosts Oman, who are already eliminated, on Monday and hope to stay unbeaten and remain on top. They will meet the runner-up of Pool A in the semifinals while South Korea will take on the Pool A topper in the semifinals on May 31.