Araijeet Singh Hundal scored twice as India qualify for the quarterfinals. Photo: Hockey India
Bhubaneswar, November 27
Sanjay Kumar, Araijeet Singh Hundal and Sudeep Chirmako scored two goals each as defending champions India thrashed Poland 8-2 to qualify for the quarterfinals of the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup here tonight.
After scoring hat-tricks in the first two games, vice-captain Sanjay continued his goal-scoring spree with strikes in the fourth and 58th minutes while Hundal — who too scored a hat-trick against Canada — added goals in the eighth and 60th minutes tonight. Chirmako (24th, 40th) also contributed two goals in the win while Uttam Singh (34th) and Shardanand Tiwari (38th) were the other goal-scorers for the hosts in the Pool B game.
Poland scored both their goals in the fourth quarter through Wojciech Rutkowski (50th) and Robert Pawlak (54th).
Belgium next
India will now face last edition’s runners-up Belgium in the quarterfinals on December 1.
Belgium topped Pool A ahead of Malaysia on goal difference after both finished on seven points each.
After a shock 4-5 defeat against France in their tournament-opener, India thrashed Canada 13-1 in their second pool match to stay alive in the competition.
Up against Poland in a must-win final match tonight, the Indians started from where they left against Canada on Thursday and put pressure on the Polish goal right from the starting whistle.
Their efforts bore fruit as early as the fourth minute of the match when star dragflicker Sanjay scored his seventh goal of the tournament, yet again from a penalty-corner.
The Indians stayed aggressive and four minutes later doubled their lead through another penalty-corner conversion, this time from the stick of Hundal.
France on top
In other matches of the day, Pakistan beat Egypt 3-1 in Pool D while France topped Pool A with an all-win record after spanking Canada 11-1.
Malaysia beat South Africa 4-3 to qualify for the quarterfinals as the second-best team from Pool A behind Belgium, who beat Chile 3-0. — PTI
Results
Pakistan bt Egypt 3-1
France bt Canada 11-1
Malaysia bt S Africa 4-3
Belgium bt Chile 3-0
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