Moqi [China], September 9 (ANI): Defending champions India produced a commanding efficiency of their concluding Pool A fixture of the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026, storming previous Chinese Taipei 15-0 on Wednesday to seal their place within the semi-finals in emphatic style.Â
Captain Anmol Ekka led the cost with a sensational six-goal haul, all coming from penalty corners, as India recovered from a goalless opening quarter to overwhelm their opponents within the remaining 45 minutes, based on a launch by Hockey India.Â
The five-time champions completed on the prime of Pool A with 10 factors from three wins and a draw, whereas South Korea secured the opposite semi-final berth from the pool after edging Japan 3-2 to complete second with 9 factors. Japan, Indonesia and Chinese Taipei bowed out of the title race and can now compete within the classification matches.
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The match started on an sudden notice as Chinese Taipei held India at bay by the opening quarter. Despite having fun with possession and creating alternatives, the defending champions had been unable to discover a means by a resolute Taipei defence.
Coach Frederic Soyez used the two-minute quarter-break successfully, rallying his gamers and demanding better depth. His phrases had the specified affect as India returned with a renewed sense of goal and fully shifted the momentum of the competition.
Aryan Xess opened India’s account within the seventeenth minute, earlier than Prabhdeep Singh doubled the benefit a minute later. Gursewak Singh then made it 3-0 within the twenty second minute, giving India three targets within the area of 5 minutes.
The floodgates had opened, and skipper Anmol quickly received in on the motion. The defender transformed a penalty nook within the twenty fifth minute to register his first aim of the night. Arjun Santosh Hargude added one other within the twenty eighth minute, earlier than Anmol struck once more from a set-piece within the subsequent minute, the Hockey India launch stated.
India headed into the half-time break with a commanding 6-0 lead, having scored six instances in a outstanding second-quarter surge.
There was little respite for Chinese Taipei after the restart. India continued to press excessive and repeatedly breached the Taipei circle, incomes two penalty corners inside the opening three minutes of the third quarter. Anmol made essentially the most of each alternatives, finishing his hat-trick earlier than including one other to take his private tally to 4.
Ajeet Yadav additionally discovered his identify on the scoresheet within the thirty fifth minute, capping one other incisive Indian transfer with a composed end. With India firmly in management, Anmol continued his outstanding scoring run, changing one other penalty nook within the forty fifth minute to carry up his fifth aim of the match and take India into double figures at 10-0 by the top of the third quarter.
The defending champions confirmed no indicators of easing off within the ultimate quarter-hour. Harpal joined the scoring spree with a subject aim within the forty eighth minute, earlier than Anmol accomplished a rare particular person efficiency by changing his sixth penalty nook of the match within the 51st minute.
Harpal then added his second aim, whereas Aryan Xess rounded it off with two targets to his identify as India tore aside the Taipei defence. The ultimate whistle confirmed a convincing 15-0 victory for India and a spot within the semi-finals.
Anmol’s six-goal efficiency was the spotlight of an in any other case full staff effort, with India demonstrating their attacking depth, penalty-corner effectivity and relentless depth after a irritating opening quarter. With the pool stage now full, the defending champions will flip their consideration to the semi-finals, carrying appreciable momentum from a commanding end to their marketing campaign. (ANI)