India and Pakistan played an exhilarating match in the men’s Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament, culminating in a captivating 1-1 draw. The encounter took place in Salalah, with both teams eager to maintain their unbeaten records in Pool A. Sharda Nand Tiwari provided India with a lead in the 24th minute, only for Basharat Ali to equalize for Pakistan in the 44th minute.
The outcome of the match kept India in second place in Pool A, trailing behind Pakistan on goal difference despite sharing the same number of points. Japan, having secured a convincing 10-1 victory over Chinese Taipei earlier in the day, currently occupies third place with six points from three outings.
Right from the outset, the Indian team adopted an aggressive stance, relentlessly pressuring Pakistan’s defense with repeated attacks. Although India earned a couple of early penalty corners, they failed to convert them into goals. Meanwhile, Pakistan created a few opportunities of their own and came close to scoring from a penalty corner, but Indian goalkeeper Amandeep Lakra proved formidable, resulting in a goalless first quarter.
However, India managed to break the deadlock in the second quarter when Sharda Nand expertly converted a penalty corner, granting his team the much-needed lead. Buoyed by their advantage, the Indian colts grew in confidence and continued to trouble Pakistan’s defense, but they were unable to find the back of the net for a second time in the second quarter, heading into halftime with a slim advantage.
Determined to restore parity, Pakistan began the third quarter with an attacking mindset. Their efforts bore fruit when Basharat scored a field goal a minute before the quarter’s conclusion, leveling the scores. In the final quarter, India launched a relentless assault, while Pakistan relied on swift counterattacks. Despite several close calls and near misses from both sides, neither team managed to breach the opponent’s defenses, resulting in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
India’s next and final pool game will be against Thailand on Sunday. With their unbeaten streak intact, India will aim to secure a victory and strengthen their position in the tournament. The thrilling encounter between India and Pakistan showcased the fierce competition and skill on display in the men’s Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the forthcoming matches as the quest for glory continues.
