Harmanpreet's double takes India into Junior Asia Cup hockey final
The Indian U-19 hockey team handed Japan a sound 6-1 thrashing in the semi-final of the 8th Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament on Saturday, in Malaysia. Harmanpreet Singh followed up his hat-trick in the quarter-final with a brace today to lead from the front.
India struck first with a wonderful field goal by Mandeep Singh after a good team effort in the 12th minute of the match. No less than a minute later, Manpreet Jr. scored from a field goal to create a two-goal cushion.
India continued its aggressive game play, as they added two more goals to their credit. Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner to net the 3rd goal of the match in the 23rd minute. 4 minutes later, Vikramjit got his name on the scoreboard, when he struck a sweet shot to score India's fourth goal of the match before half-time.
Japan managed its lone goal, in the 44th minute, before India added insult to injury by adding two more goals later in the half. Harmanpreet registered his 10th goal of the tournament, when he struck in the 48th minute with another penalty corner. Six minutes before the end of the game, Varun Kumar registered his first goal of the tournament with a field goal to make it 6-1.
This is India's second victory over Japan in the event after the 2-1 win in the group stage.
India will next face the winner of the semi-final between Korea and Pakistan for the trophy on November 22.