In the final of the men’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 hockey tournament in Muscat on Wednesday, India defeated Pakistan 5-3, defending their championship.
After defeating Japan 4-2 the day before, Pakistan easily advanced to the Junior Hockey Asia Cup final thanks to a brace by Hannan Shahid. In the other semifinal match, archrivals India defeated Malaysia 3-1.
The results were posted on X by the Asian Hockey Federation.
Hannan Shahid hammered the ball into the other team’s net to give Pakistan the lead in the third minute.
But 30 seconds later, Araijeet Singh Hundal of India equalized the score with a penalty corner.
In addition to scoring a goal from field play in the 47th minute, Hundal also converted two more penalty corners in the 18th and 54th minutes.
The reigning champions led 3-1 at the interval after a goal by Dilraj Singh of India in the 19th minute.
Sufyan Khan of Pakistan ended the second quarter with a score of 2-3 after converting a penalty corner in the 30th minute.
The nation’s field hockey governing body, Hockey India, celebrated today’s win with a post on X.
According to the post, “the reigning champions have demonstrated their dominance, skill, and resilience, proving once again why they reign supreme in Asia.”
Both sides qualified for the Federation of International Hockey Junior World Cup in India the following year, according to the Asian Hockey Federation.
