Kisho kuroda

Araijeet Singh Hundal: The Indian junior men’s hockey team registered a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Japan, who fought back from a goal deficit twice, in their second match in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2024 in Muscat, Oman on Thursday.

Thokchom Kingson Singh (12’) opened the account for India but Japan’s Neo Sato (15’, 38’) scored soon after to restore parity. As both teams traded penalty corners in the second half, Rohit (36’) gave India the lead but Neo Sato found the back of the net again to level the scores. Araijeet Singh Hundal (39’) seized the lead for India again towards the end of the third quarter and India held on to the one-goal lead to seal their victory.

Both teams engaged in a back-and-forth tussle for territory from the starting whistle, leading to a penalty corner for Japan three minutes into the game. Bikramjit Singh remained alert, averting any danger to his goal. Despite Japan employing a high press, India skilfully bypassed it with clever aerial balls and silky skills. Both teams wrestled for meaningful possession, and it was Dilraj Singh who earned a penalty corner for India with three minutes left in the first quarter.