LAHORE: A magnificent four-goal show by Arjeet Singh helped India beat Pakistan 5-3 in the ACC Junior Asia Cup hockey final at the Hockey Oman Stadium in Muscat on Wednesday night.

This was India’s third consecutive victory in the junior continental event. They clinched the last two titles in 2015 and 2023.

Pakistan earned an early lead in the match when Shahid Hanan struck a field goal in the third minute. However, India responded quickly to level and move ahead courtesy Arjeet who first converted a penalty-corner in the fourth minute and then struck again in the 18th minute to give his side a 2-1 lead.

Just a minute later Dilhaj Singh scored for India in the next minute to make it 3-1. But a resilient Pakistan side made a superb comeback as Sufyan Khan’s brace — goals in 30th and 39th minutes – made it 3-3 and the match seemed to be heading for a cliffhanger.

But Arjeet and his team had other ideas as he hit the board twice. First he scored in a field attempt in the 47th minute, and seven minutes later he converted a short-corner to seal the fate of the match.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024