India Defeat Korea 4-1 in U-18 Asia Cup Hockey Tournament
India registered a commanding 4-1 victory over Korea in the U-18 Asia Cup Hockey Tournament in Japan. Captain Ketan Kushwaha starred with two goals as India moved closer to the semifinals.
Prasanth Subramani
India Men's Under-18 Hockey Team delivered a dominant performance to defeat South Korea Men's Under-18 Hockey Team 4-1 in the U-18 Asia Cup Hockey Tournament being held in Kagamigahara, Japan.
Competing in a Group A encounter, India took control of the match right from the opening whistle and established a commanding lead early in the game. The Indian side raced to a 2-0 advantage in the first quarter through goals from captain Ketan Kushwaha in the 3rd minute and Varinder Singh in the 5th minute.
India continued to dominate proceedings, with Ketan Kushwaha scoring his second goal of the match in the 36th minute during the third quarter to extend the lead. In the final quarter, Shahrukh Khan found the net in the 54th minute, sealing an impressive victory for the Indian team.
South Korea managed to score a consolation goal in the 21st minute through captain Yoon Jaehyeok, but it was not enough to challenge India's dominance.
With this victory, India moved to six points in Group A, joining Japan and South Korea on the same tally. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals, making the remaining group-stage matches crucial.
India will next face Chinese Taipei Men's Under-18 Hockey Team on June 3 as they continue their quest for a place in the knockout stage of the tournament.
