SALALAH: In a highly anticipated clash, Pakistan’s junior hockey team suffered a major setback as they lost the final match of the Junior Asia Cup 2023 against arch-rivals India by a scoreline of 2-1 in Salalah, Oman on Thursday.
India’s Angad Bar Singh opened the scoring in the 13th minute, putting his team in the lead. Just seven minutes later, Araijeet Singh Hundal doubled India’s advantage with another goal. However, Pakistan’s Ali Basharat managed to pull one back for his team in the 38th minute, following a well-executed pass from his teammate Shahid Abdul.
Despite a dominant display in the second half with relentless attacks, the Men in Green failed to breach India’s strong defense, resulting in a defeat in the final.
India emerged as the tournament champions, having not lost a single match throughout the competition, while Pakistan’s lone defeat came in the final showdown.
Pakistan’s Abdul Hannan Shahid was honored with the Player of the Tournament award, showcasing his exceptional skills and performance. Additionally, Abdul Rahman from Pakistan claimed the top scorer title for his outstanding goal-scoring contributions during the tournament.
The two teams had previously clashed in the final of the 2015 Junior Asia Cup in Malaysia, where India emerged victorious with a commanding scoreline of 6-2 against Pakistan.
With this victory, India has set a new record by winning their fourth Men’s Junior Asia Cup title. They had previously clinched the championship in 2004, 2008, and 2015. On the other hand, Pakistan had secured the title in 1988, 1992, and 1996.
Financial Woes of Pakistan Junior Hockey Team
However, it is disheartening to note that the Pakistan junior hockey team faced financial difficulties during the Asia Cup in Oman. Reports from local media indicate that the players and officials were supposed to receive a daily allowance of $100, but due to insufficient funds, they did not receive their entitled payments.
Local media reported that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had repeatedly requested funds from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) before the team’s departure for the tournament. Additionally, the PHF covered the expenses for the squad’s tickets and accommodation from its own resources.
