NEWS
SCHEDULES
COLUMNS
PREVIOUS TOURS
OTHER SPORTS
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

India too good for Japan

Sportalasia

Only a catastrophe of Biblical proportions will prevent India from entering the semifinals of the 4th Junior Men's Asia Cup.

The Indians today registered their third consecutive victory in Group B, outclassing Japan 9-2, and only have two matches left to play against minnows Iran and Uzbekistan.

The Indians, who top the group with nine points after the win, now only need three more points to be certain of a place in the last four.

In today's match at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium, India swept aside the challenge of Japan, a team who were expected to give them the hardest fight.

Japan who led the table earlier today, crumbled under the unrelenting Indian onslaught.

Burly defender Len Ayappa opened scoring for the favourites when he flicked home a penalty corner in the 13th minute.

Sensing blood, India went into overdrive and increased their lead 10 minutes later with a brilliant team goal.

The ball was passed all over the pitch as the Indians waited for an opening, when it did come, Inderjit Singh weaved his way into the D and passed to Deepak Thakur who had an easy task of shooting into goal.

Gagan Ajit Singh increased the lead to three in the 27th minute when he dribbled his way past several defenders before slotting the ball past Takeda Kayuza.

Nakabeppu Kouta reduced the deficit two minutes later but Len made it 4-1 with another penalty corner goal a minute from the break.

India did not let up in the second half and they added further goals through Ajit (37th, 63rd) and Arjun Halappa (40th, 60th). Bikramjit Singh sealed victory by converting a penalty stroke at the death.

Although Japan pulled another back through Nakayama Gakumaru in the 58th minute, the big defeat drops them all the way to third behind Bangladesh who have a greater goal difference.

Kashif powers tired Pakistan to victory

If action speaks louder than words, then Kashif Javad has stated his case for inclusion in the Pakistani Olympic squad.

The forward, who was dropped from his country's pre-Olympic squad in order for him to concentrate on the Junior Asia Cup, was the star of the day against Chinese Taipei.

His predatory instinct in front of goal reminds one of the great goal poachers from Pakistan's past.

Today at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium, Kashif singlehandedly carried a tired-looking Pakistani team to an unconvincing 12-0 victory.

What was most amazing about his double hattrick today is that Kashif only had nine shots at goal!

His six goals today means Kashif is now the tournament's top scorer with eight goals from three matches.

The forward had a quiet first half but still managed to open the scoring in the fifth minute via a penalty corner.

Pakistan's other scorers in the first half were Shahid Rabban Mian (15th), Muddasar Ali Khan (31st) and Atif Mushtaq (34th).

Muddasar added a second in the 37th minute before Kashif added four goals in the 40th, 47th, 54th and 59th minutes.

In between Kashif's goals, Sammer Hussain put his name on the scoresheet.

Pakistan took their foot of the pedal after their 10th goal but still found time to score two more goals through Atif in the 60th minute and Kashif's sixth in the final second of the match.

Pakistan even had the luxury of missing a penalty stroke in the 70 minute when Muddasar's flick was saved by Chinese Taipei keeper Lai Kuan Yu.

Bangladesh bags record number of goals against Iran

Bangladesh may not have had the successes of their Indian continent rivals Pakistan and India but the poorer cousins stole the limelight today, scoring the highest number of goals in a single match at 4th Junior Men's Asia Cup.

The 14 goals with no reply against an inexperienced but determined Iranian side is the highest so far after four days at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.

With the victory and greater goal difference, Bangladesh now has a good chance of making the semifinals should Japan fall to India later tonight.

Japan and India both have played a game less than Bangladesh and all three have an equal six points.

Bangladesh took full advantage of the Iranians 17-year stint in hockey wilderness and five penalty strokes, four converted, was proof of the middle-east side's lack of exposure.

Mohd Mahbubuz Hassan opened scoring through a field goal in the sixth minute before Md Ariful Haq Prince doubled the lead two minutes later from a penalty corner.

Two successful penalty stroke conversions by Md Shahidulla Tipu and Mahbubuz in the 17th and 20th minute whetted Bangladeshi appetite for goals.

Md Giasuddin Rubei added goal No.5 in the 26th minute before turning in a pass from Md Ashiquzzaman in the 34th for his second.

Eight further goals in the second half from Md Ishtiaque Ahmed (42nd, 62nd), Sk Ramiz Ahmed (49th, 61st, 68th), Ashiquzzaman (52nd, 54th) and Md M'Erajul Ahsan completed the rout.

Courtsey: www.hockeyasia.com