India edged Pakistan 2-1 to bag their fourth Men's Junior Asia Cup hockey title at Salalah, Oman on Thursday.
Angad Bir Singh (13') and Araijeet Singh Hundal (20') were on target for India while Basharat Ali scored the consolation goal for Pakistan.
Having won the title previously in 2004, 2008 and 2015, India are now the most successful team in the history of the tournament with four titles to their name. Pakistan, meanwhile, have three titles (1988, 1992 and 1996).
Congratulations to the Indian Junior Men's Team for clinching Gold and announcing themselves as the Best in Asia in the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #AsiaCup2023 #GoldToIndianColts#GloryToIndianColts pic.twitter.com/Bk1xNlARht
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 1, 2023
India dominated proceedings right from the beginning and took the lead in the 13th minute via Angad Bir Singh's strike. They then doubled their lead in the 20th minute when Araijeet Singh Hundal found the back of the net.
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Pakistan did fight back briefly in the third quarter when Basharat Ali scored in the 38th minute but India managed to hold on to their lead thanks to some exceptional saves by goalkeeper Shashikumar Mohith.
With the accolades comes the rewards 🤩
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 1, 2023
Hockey India rewards the Players and Staff for their fantastic achievement by offering a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakhs for each Player and 1 lakh for each Support Staff of the Junior Men's Hockey Team.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #AsiaCup2023… pic.twitter.com/U53vOZGLHy
Hockey India announced cash rewards for the victorious Indian side. While the players will receive INR 2 Lakh each, the support staff will get INR 1 Lakh each.
In the third-place game, South Korea edged out Malaysia 2-1. India, Pakistan and Korea have now qualified for 2023 Junior Hockey World Cup.
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