Defending champions India put their disappointment of their 2-0 defeat to Australia and hauled themselves back on track when they smashed Pakistan for a sixer for one of their biggest win at junior level over their hockey rivals from the Indian sub-continent.
In other matches Australia came from behind for a 4-3 win over New Zealand while Malaysia became the first team to score against Great Britain but were not good enough and lost 3-2. Britain had gone into the match with 5-0 and 2-0 wins overs Pakistan and India in their first two matches.
It was India’s second win in the six-nation International Invitational Under-21 Sultan of Johor Cup tournament at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru. With the win India continued their supremacy over Pakistan in the tournament since it was inaugurated in 2011. Last year India won 4-0 against Pakistan.
India won the title last year with a 3-0 win over Malaysia in the final and were runners-up to Germany in 2012. Malaysia were the inaugiral champions with a 3-2 win over Australia in the final.
India coach Harendra Singh, while happy with the thumping win over their bitter rivals, said: “There are still lot of areas to improve. However, I am very happy with the way the boys controlled their emotions which led to the big win.
“When you lose your emotions you tend to do things not required on the field.”
India led 2-0 at halftime but ran riot against their opponents after the break as Pakistan were left clueless to India’s attacking hockey. A penalty corner conversion by Imran Khan in the 22nd minute opened their floodgates for India and Parvinder Singh executed a brilliant reverse stick from an acute angle to sound the board on 34 minutes.
And the Indians came out with their guns blazing after the break with Armaan Qureshi make it 3-0 in the 49th minute with a field attempt. India forced three penalty corners and converted from all three attempts through Harmanpreet Singh, (53rd), Varum Kumar (67) and Qureshi completing his brace in the 69th minute.
“The team is made up young players with 15 of them travelling out of the country for an international tournament for an international tournament. They are shaping up well but have a long way to go,” added Harendra.
In another match, Australia staged a strong fightback in the last 20 minutes to beat New Zealand 4-3 after being down 3-2 to remain second in the table standings with seven points.New Zealand led 3-0 with the first two coming off penalty set pieces through Nic Woods (3rd), Daniel Panchia (35th) while Kim Kingstone netting from a field attempt in the 41st minute.
Australia woke up from their slumber and scored four times through Andrew, Andrew Sacnlaon, Joshua Bretherton, Oliver Crane, Max Hendry for a thrilling win.
RESULTS (Wednesday Oct 15)
AUSTRALIA 4 N.ZEALAND 3
INDIA 6 PAKISTAN 0
GREAT BRITAIN 3 MALAYSIA 2
FIXTURES THURSDAY (OCT 16)
PAKISTAN vs N.ZEALAND (4pm)
MALAYSIA vs INDIA (6pm)
GREAT BRITAIN vs AUSTRALIA (8pm)
(All matches at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Johor Bahru)
STANDINGS
P W D L F A Pts
G. Britain 3 3 0 0 10 2 9
Australia 3 2 1 0 7 5 7
India 3 2 0 1 8 3 6
Malaysia 3 0 1 2 4 6 1
N.Zealand 3 0 1 2 5 7 1
Pakistan 3 0 1 2 1 12 1
