India began its title defense in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup with a commanding 11-0 victory over Thailand in their Pool A opener in Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday. The Indian side, led by Amir Ali and coached by former national goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh, displayed complete dominance, racing to an 8-0 lead by halftime before adding three more goals in the second half.
Araijeet Singh Hundal, Gurjot Singh, and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha each scored twice, while Arshdeep Singh, Sharda Nand Tiwari, Dilraj Singh, Rohit, and Mukesh Toppo added a goal apiece.
The scoring began early with Sharda Nand Tiwari converting a penalty corner in the first quarter. India quickly capitalized on Thailand’s defensive lapses, with Gurjot Singh deflecting Hundal’s shot into the net and Kushwaha lifting a rebound over the keeper. By the end of the first quarter, the scoreboard already read 5-0 in favor of India.
Dilraj Singh extended the lead with a powerful reverse shot before Hundal weaved past defenders to score a sublime goal in the 24th minute. Rohit added to the tally with a penalty stroke, giving India an 8-0 advantage at the break.
Though India slowed slightly in the third quarter, their dominance never wavered. Gurjot Singh scored his second goal late in the quarter, deflecting a precise pass from Rosan Kujur.
In the final quarter, Kushwaha netted India’s 10th goal off Amir Ali’s assist, and Mukesh Toppo sealed the rout with a sharp strike in the closing minutes.
Thailand, despite gaining more possession in the second half, failed to threaten India’s defense. Their attempts to push forward were met with solid defensive organization, ensuring a clean sheet for the Indian side.
India’s coach, P.R. Sreejesh, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance but emphasized the need to maintain focus for the upcoming matches. “It was a great start, but tougher challenges lie ahead. The boys showed excellent skill and discipline, and now we prepare for Japan,” he said.
India faces Japan on Thursday in its second group-stage encounter. With their emphatic opening performance, India has sent a strong message to their opponents as they aim to retain the Junior Asia Cup title.
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