The Indian hockey team registered a 5-3 victory over Pakistan in the men’s junior Asia Cup final played in Muscat, Oman. The Indian team registered the third consecutive title of the tournament and created a record. Indian drag flicker Araijeet Singh Hundal turned out to he the hero of the match as he hit four goals which proved to be decisive in the match. The Indian team showcased attacking form of play from the start of the match and never really allowed the arch rivals to gain any type of momentum throughout the match.
India Win Fifth Men’s Junior Hockey Asia Cup Title
India jeet gaya!!
— Hockey India League (@HockeyIndiaLeag) December 4, 2024
The boys have done it! We’re the Men’s Junior Asia Cup Champions of 2024!#HIL2024 pic.twitter.com/HuWpArMZ6q
Pakistan took an early lead in the match after Hannan Shahid scored a goal in the 3rd minute. However, Araijeet Singh Hundal came to India’s rescure and scored in the fourth minute of the match with a penalty corner. The Indian team didn’t have to wait for their second goal as it was Hundal again who scored with another penalty corner in the 18th minute of the match. Dilraj Singh extended Team India’s lead to 3-1 by securing a field goal in the 19th minute. However, Pakistani players Sufyan Khan secured a goal in the 30th minute through a penalty corner and netted another goal in the 39th minute. The score was 3-3 at one point when Hundal took the onus in his hands once again and netted a field goal in the 47th minute and converted a penalty corner in 54th minute. At the end, India were able to win the match by a margin of 5-3.
The Indian team won its record fifth title of the tournament. The Indian team has won the title in 2004, 2008, 2015 and 2023 previously. The tournament wasn’t held in the year 2021 due to the corona virus pandemic. Apart from India, Japan took the third spot by defeating Malaysia by a margin of 2-1.
