Commanding Victory for India in World Cup Opener
The Indian junior men's hockey team made a spectacular start to their FIH Men's Junior Hockey World Cup campaign, delivering a powerful 7-0 victory against Chile on Friday. The match showcased India's offensive prowess and set a positive tone for their tournament journey, which is being jointly hosted by Chennai and Madurai until December 10.
Breaking the Deadlock and Building Momentum
The first quarter saw India controlling possession but facing a resilient Chilean defense that initially thwarted scoring opportunities. The breakthrough finally came just one minute into the second quarter when Rosan Khujur found the net, assisted by Manmeet Singh. Rosan struck again in the 21st minute, skillfully maneuvering past two defenders and the Chilean goalkeeper, Nicolas Troncoso, after receiving a precise pass from Arshdeep Singh.
The Indian onslaught continued as Dilraj Singh capitalized on a penalty corner rebound in the 25th minute. This period was dominated by India, with most of the action confined to Chile's half, demonstrating their clear superiority on the field.
Consolidating the Lead with Team Effort
India maintained their intensity in the third quarter, with Dilraj Singh scoring his second goal in the 34th minute following an assist from Ankit Pal. The momentum stayed firmly with the hosts as Ajeet Yadav added another goal just a minute later with a well-executed reverse hit, thanks to Gurjot Singh's setup.
Chile managed to earn their first penalty corner in the 40th minute but could not convert it into a goal. India's dominance was further cemented when Anmol Ekka successfully converted a penalty corner in the 48th minute, taking the score to 6-0. Captain Rohit put the final touch on the commanding performance by scoring from a penalty stroke in the closing minutes.
Other notable results from the day included:
- New Zealand defeating China 5-3 in Pool C
- Argentina overcoming Japan 4-1 in another Pool C match
- Switzerland securing a 4-0 victory against Oman in Pool B
India, ranked second in the Under-21 category, will now prepare to face Oman in their next Pool B match on Saturday, looking to build on this impressive start.
