Johor Bahru, Malaysia: In a gripping encounter at the Sultan of Johor Cup, India's junior men's hockey team emerged victorious against the tournament hosts Malaysia, securing a 2-1 win on Friday. This victory propels them into the finals to face Australia on Saturday.
India's goals came from penalty corners, with Gurjot Singh capitalizing in the 22nd minute, while Sourabh Anand Kushwaha added to the tally in the 48th minute. Malaysia responded with a goal from Naaveenesh Panicker in the 43rd minute, but it was not enough.
This marks an impressive record for India, reaching the final for the eighth time in their 12 appearances at the Sultan of Johor Cup.
The match, which experienced a delayed start due to rain, saw both teams initially struggle in the slippery conditions. India's strategy of using long aerial balls at the onset didn’t yield significant results.
As the pitch conditions improved, India came out aggressively in the second quarter, securing consecutive penalty corners. Despite strong attempts, including a close effort by Araijeet Hundal that was denied by the Malaysian goalkeeper and the crossbar, it wasn't until the 22nd minute that Gurjot managed to break the deadlock, scoring from a rebound.
Going into halftime, India held a slight advantage with a 1-0 lead, although they missed converting several opportunities, with nine penalty corners awarded in the first half alone yielding just one goal.
After the break, India's offensive pressure continued, but Malaysia equalized in the 43rd minute thanks to Naaveenesh's goal, following a lapse in the Indian defense inside the circle.
Just five minutes later, India regained the lead as Kushwaha found the net following a rebound in a one-on-one attempt against the Malaysian keeper.
India's penalty corner woes persisted in the second half as they couldn't convert a 53rd-minute opportunity. Malaysia, seeking an equalizer, pushed forward aggressively, earning two penalty corners. However, the Indian defense, with strong man-to-man marking, held firm to safeguard their lead.
In the closing quarter, India's composure and defensive discipline ensured they successfully navigated Malaysia's attacks, sealing their place in the final.