Sports Desk. The Indian junior men’s hockey team successfully defended its title by defeating Pakistan 5-3 in a high-scoring final of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup. With the help of four goals from Arijit Singh Hundal, defending champion India registered a hat-trick of the title by defeating arch-rival Pakistan in the final match on Wednesday.
This was India’s fifth title in the continental tournament. Earlier, India had also won this title in the years 2004, 2008, 2015 and 2023. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament could not be organized in 2021. On this occasion, Hockey India announced a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh to each player and Rs 1 lakh to each support staff.
Let us tell you that in the beginning of the match, Pakistan team showed a lot of pace and took the lead in the third minute of the game with Shahid’s field goal. However, within seconds, India got their first penalty corner and Hundal equalized the score with a brilliant drag flick. In the second quarter, India improved its game and won the second penalty corner in the 18th minute, which Hundal once again converted into a goal.
A minute later, Dilraj also scored an excellent field goal to increase India’s lead to 3-1. In the 30th minute, Pakistan made the score 2-3 with a goal scored by Sufiyan on a penalty corner. Sufiyan equalized for Pakistan by converting another penalty corner in the 39th minute. After this, India showed momentum and after getting its third penalty corner in the 47th minute of the last quarter, Hundal took a shot but the Pakistani goalkeeper saved it.
