Hockey Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023: India Thrash Korea 9-1 To Enter Final, Boby Singh Dhami Scores A Hat trick

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The Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team thrashed Korea by a big 8-1 margin in the semi-final and stormed into the Final of the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023 in Salalah, Oman on Wednesday (May 31).

Boby Singh Dhami scored a hat trick of goals in the big contest as the Indian Colts dominated the game from the start as seven players had their names on the scoresheet.

Sunit Lakra (13'), Araijeet Singh Hundal (19'), Boby Singh Dhami (31', 39', 55'), Angad Bir Singh (34'), Captain Uttam Singh (38'), Vishnukant Singh (51'), and Sharda Nand Tiwari (57') were the goal scorers for India. For Korea, it was a solitary goal from Keonyeol Hwang in the 46th minute.

Hockey Men's Junior Asia Cup Semi-Final 1: India beat Korea

In the early exchanges, it was the Koreans who looked more dangerous; however, they came up against a well-organised Indian defensive unit, that absorbed the pressure well.

Just after the halfway mark in the quarter, Team India started shifting gears and pushed Korea back into their half, with a couple of attacks originating from the right. With a couple of minutes left in the first quarter, Sunit Lakra (13') smashed it into the net, giving India a 1-0 lead against Korea at the break.

Both sides began the second phase well, matching each other toe to toe in the early exchanges before the Indian Colts doubled the lead. Araijeet Singh Hundal (19') found himself in space inside the area and finished masterfully from close range.

From then on in, the Koreans kept looking for a way to goal, but India's defenders kept them at arm's length. Meanwhile, the Uttam Singh-led side almost added a third goal but went into the half-time break leading the Semi-Final 2-0.

India Led Korea 2-0 At Half Time

Right after the start in the third quarter, Boby Singh Dhami's (31') high press came in handy as he recovered possession and smashed it home to make it 3-0 for the Indians. A few minutes later, Angad Bir Singh (34') made it 4-0 as Uttam Singh and co took control of proceedings.

India continued to attack and soon after added a couple of more goals in quick succession, as Captain Uttam Singh (38') and Boby Singh Dhami (39') netted to make it 6-0 in their favour.

Indians Extend 6-Goal Lead Over Koreans

A rare Korean attack almost led to a goal. However, goalkeeper Mohith Shashikumar stood firm to see India through the 3rd quarter break with a healthy lead. Keonyeol Hwang (46') got Korea onto the scoresheet, making it 6-1 when he converted a Penalty Corner in the first minute of the final quarter.

The Indians restored the six-goal lead soon after when Vishnukant Singh (51') made it 7-1 from a Penalty Corner. With five minutes left in the contest, Boby Singh Dhami (55') completed his hat-trick, as his team extended the lead to 8-1.

A couple of minutes later, Sharda Nand Tiwari's (57') well-directed shot from a Penalty Corner made it 9-1, giving the fans present a fair amount to be happy about.

The Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team, who are three-time winners of the Men's Junior Asia Cup, will be eyeing a fourth title and will play arch-rivals Pakistan in the final.

Pakistan defeated Malaysia 6-2 in the second semi-final to set up a mouth-watering contest in the summit clash which is scheduled for June 1. Abdul Rehman (44', 48', 51') scored a hat trick for Pakistan in the semi-final.

Abdul Shahid (47'), Mohammad Khan (42'), and Arbaz Ahmad (58') scored one goal each for Pakistan. For Malaysia Perabu Tangaraja (21') and Danish Aiman Muhammad (45') were the goal scorers.