The Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team ended their Pool A league encounter of the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2024 with a commanding 8-1 win over former champions Korea (2000 edition) in Muscat, Oman on Monday.

Hat-trick by Arshdeep Singh (9’, 44’, 60’) after Araijeet Singh Hundal (3’, 37’) brace and a goal each by  Gurjot Singh (11’), Rosan Kujur (27’) and Rohit (30’) ensured India remain unbeaten in the league phase. For Korea Taehyeon Kim (18’) scored the consolation, With 12 points from four wins, Pool toppers India advanced into the Semi-final, where they will face Pool B second placed team Malaysia, which had secured seven points from four matches.

Japan also qualified for the Semi-finals from Pool A as the second-placed team with nine points, courtesy three wins and one loss (against India) and will take on last edition's losing finalist Pakistan, which earlier had beaten Malaysia 4-1 on Sunday in their final Pool B league match, to maintain their winning momentum.

The Amir Ali lead Indian side started the game strong, using a mix of short passes and long aerials to dominate possession. Their efforts bore fruits as they secured their first penalty corner within three minutes. A mistrap led to the ball being passed to an unmarked Araijeet Singh Hundal, whose first-time shot blazed past Korean goalkeeper Sookyo Kim, for the first goal of the match. The defending champions India maintained their momentum, consistently creating circle entries. With six minutes left in the first quarter, a series of quick passes between Araijeet, Manmeet Singh, and Arshdeep Singh set up Arshdeep for an easy tap-in, making it 2-0. Shortly after, Gurjot Singh capitalized on a rebound from a Dilraj Singh shot to bring the score to 3-0.

In the second quarter, India's passing was even sharper. However, against the run of play, a long aerial from Korea's Donggeon Kim found Taehyeon Kim, who caught the Indian defense off guard and scored. Korea's defense grew more combative, resisting India's advances. In response, India rotated the ball around the flanks, searching for openings. Soon, Araijeet cut in from the left wing and set up Rosan Kujur, who picked out the top right corner with a powerful flick, bringing the score to 4-1. As the first half drew to a close, Vice-captain Rohit too executed a fierce drag flick from a penalty corner, making it 5-1 for India at the halfway stage.

The PR Sreejesh coached side maintained its dominance with their high press game to create several opportunities, but struggled to convert in the third quarter. However during a run of play Arshdeep made a dangerous move along the right baseline and later a pin point pass for Araijeet inside the D, was swatted by the latter for his second of the game. As the quarter neared its end, Arshdeep picked up a stray ball in the circle and unleashed a reverse shot to make it 7-1.

India began to show more patience in their gameplay, maintaining possession while Korea sought to score a second goal in the final quarter. The Indian forwards continued to trouble Korea’s defence with counter-attacks but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. In the dying minutes, Arshdeep latched onto a pass in the circle, sidestepped his defender, and scored on the half turn, completing his hat-trick and sealing an 8-1 victory for India. Arshdeep and Araijeet with six goals each are placed jointly in the third place in the list of top goal scorers at the end of league phase so far, behind Pakistan’s penalty corner specialist Sufyan Khan (nine goals) and Yubo Wang (seven goals).

India Under-21 side earlier opened their Pool A campaign with 11-0 win over Thailand after Araijeet Singh Hundal (2’, 24’), Sourabh Anand Kushwaha (19’, 52’) and Gurjot Singh (18’, 45’) scored a brace each in the game. Arshdeep Singh (8’), Sharda Nand Tiwari (10’) Dilraj Singh (21’), Rohit (29’) and Mukesh Toppo (59’) too contributed a goal each in the comprehensive victory for India.

Their next outing against 1996 edition finalist Japan however ended in a hard fought 3-2 victory, following a goal each by Thokchom Kingson Singh (12’), Rohit (36’) and Araijeet Singh Hundal (39’). Having taken a lead twice on either side of the half, their efforts were neutralised by Japan’s Neo Sato (15’, 38’) goals.

The Indian team however continued their dominant performance at the Men's Junior Asia Cup with a convincing 16-0 triumph over Chinese Taipei in their third pool A match last weekend. Dilraj Singh (17', 40', 45', 57') starred in the match with four scintillating goals after Yogember Rawat (7’) opening goal in the match in the first quarter. Sourabh Anand Kushwaha (20', 28’, 58’) scored twice in the second quarter while Rosan Kujur (23', 32’, 42’) too added to the team's 5-0 tally by half-time.  Arshdeep Singh (37’, 44’), Priyobarta Talem (31’),  Sharda Nand Tiwari (39’), Araijeet Singh Hundal (54’) were the other goal scorers for the winners and were backed by the formidable Indian defence who held sway with goalies Bikramjit Singh and Prince Deep Singh ensuring a clean slate against the minnows.

Photo Cover: 19-year old forward Arshdeep Singh who scored a hat-trick for India against former champions Korea receives the 'Player of the Match' from a dignitary

Photo Above:  Team India dominated their rivals Korea in their 8-1 win during the ongoing Men's Junior Asia Cup 2024 en-route the Semis (Photo courtesy AHF)