Kuantan (Malaysia): Harmanpreet Singh successfully converted four penalty corners as India overpowered traditional rivals Pakistan 6-2 in the final of the 8th Junior Men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium here on Sunday.
Harmanpreet scored his hat-trick inside 30 minutes to ease the issue for India. Armaan Qureshi (44th minute) and Manpreet jr. (50th) were the other goal-scorers for India.
India started the match on a positive note, pressing hard since the opening minute of the first half and were soon awarded with a penalty corner in the 10th minute.
Harmanpreet converted the penalty corner to take his tally to 12 goals in the tournament and give India an early advantage of 1-0.
India were again awarded with back-to-back penalty corners in the 13th and 14th minute — the second one being fruitful for Harmanpreet.
Pakistan fought back in the 28th minute with a successful penalty corner from Yaqoob Muhammad.
However, India again got back on attack and earned another penalty corner that completed hat-trick for Harmanpreet two minutes later as India went into the lemon break with a 3-1 lead.
