MOQI, SEP 9 (IANS): India’s junior hockey teams delivered emphatic performances at the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026, with the men defeating South Korea 7-3 to move closer to a semi-final berth, while the women thrashed Japan 7-0 to secure their quarter-final spot.
India men beat Korea
India’s men strengthened their position atop Pool A with a thrilling 7-3 victory over South Korea on Tuesday. The win took India’s tally to seven points from three matches (two wins and a draw), leaving them within touching distance of the semi-finals. South Korea, meanwhile, remain on six points and face a tough final fixture against Japan, who are still in contention with four points.
The match was fiercely contested in the opening three quarters, with both sides trading goals. Captain Anmol Ekka, India’s star dragflicker, opened the scoring in the fifth minute, but Korea equalised immediately through Dohyeon Choi. The second quarter followed the same pattern: Lovenoor Singh restored India’s lead, only for Hyoguk Yoo to level again. India regained control before halftime through Ajeet Yadav, making it 3-2.
Korea struck back once more in the third quarter via Yoo’s second goal, levelling at 3-3. But India responded decisively: Prabhdeep Singh scored in the 42nd minute to give India a 4-3 lead heading into the final quarter.
The turning point came in the last 15 minutes, when India unleashed a three-goal burst in just three minutes. Gursewak Singh scored in the 55th minute, followed by Anmol’s second goal a minute later, taking his tournament tally to eight. Aryan Xess sealed the result in the 58th minute, completing a dominant 7-3 win.
India now face Chinese Taipei in their final pool match on Wednesday, where victory will confirm their semi-final place.
India women thrash Japan
On the women’s side, India continued their flawless run with a commanding 7-0 victory over Japan in their third Elite Pool match on Tuesday. The win ensured India’s place in the quarter-finals, maintaining their perfect record with nine points from three matches. They will face China next in a clash to decide the top spot, with China on six points from two matches.
India’s attacking momentum was evident from the start. Krishna Sharma opened the scoring in the fifth minute, followed by a penalty stroke conversion from Supriya in the ninth. Purnima Yadav added a field goal in the 14th minute, giving India a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Japan attempted to fight back in the second quarter but failed to break India’s defence. The score remained 3-0 at halftime.
India shifted gears in the third quarter, scoring three goals in five minutes. Geeta Yadav struck in the 41st minute and completed her brace in the 45th. A minute later, Purnima added her second goal, extending India’s lead to 6-0.
In the final quarter, Sanika Chandrakant Mane scored in the 50th minute to complete the rout. India comfortably managed the remainder of the match, sealing their third consecutive victory and underlining their dominance in the Elite Pool.
