Mens Junior Hockey Asia Cup 2024: Araijeet Singh Hundal Stars As India Beat Pakistan 5-3 To Win Fifth Title
Araijeet Singh Hundal slammed 4 targets as defending champions India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 within the summit conflict to win a hat-trick of titles within the males’s junior Asia Cup in Muscat, Oman on Wednesday.
This was India’s fifth title within the continental event, having beforehand gained the crown in 2004, 2008, 2015 and 2023. The event was not held in 2021 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Araijeet transformed three penalty corners within the fourth, 18th and 54th minutes in addition to discovering the web from a area effort within the forty seventh minute. Dilraj Singh (nineteenth) was the opposite purpose getter for India.
For Pakistan, Sufyan Khan (thirtieth, thirty ninth) transformed two penalty corners, whereas Hannan Shahid scored from area play within the third minute.
Japan defeated Malaysia 2-1 to assert the third spot earlier within the day.
There was hardly something to distinguish between the 2 sides as each India and Pakistan fought exhausting for ball possession within the first quarter.
The spotlight of the primary quarter was ariel passes employed by each the groups.
However Pakistan had the primary chortle, putting as early because the third minute by way of a area purpose from Shahid.
India did not sit again and secured their first penalty nook seconds later, and Araijeet stepped up to attract degree with a robust drag-flick to the appropriate of Pakistan goalkeeper.
India upped their recreation within the second quarter and secured their second penalty nook within the 18th minute and Araijeet struck once more with one other highly effective flick.
A minute later, a high-quality area purpose by Dilraj prolonged India’s result in 3-1.
Pakistan, nevertheless, diminished the margin within the thirtieth minute by way of a penalty nook conversion by Sufyan.
Pakistan have been the higher aspect on show after the change of ends they usually drew degree within the thirty ninth minute by way of one other penalty nook conversion by Sufyan.
India secured their third penalty nook within the forty seventh minute, however Araijeet’s effort was saved by Pakistan goalkeeper Muhammad Janjua.
Araijeet, nevertheless, was to not be denied his hat-trick as he discovered the web from a area effort seconds later at hand India the lead once more.
India pressed exhausting on the Pakistan citadel within the closing 10 minutes and secured a number of extra penalty corners and Araijeet discovered the web once more from a high-quality variation to make the scoreline 5-3.
