Bhubaneswar, Nov 25: Vice-captain Sanjay scored a second consecutive hat-trick while Araijeet Singh Hundal too found the net thrice as defending champions India bounced back strongly to demolish Canada 13-1 in their second Pool B match of the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup here on Thursday.
Stunned by France 5-4 in their tournament opener, the Indians roared back into the tournament, scoring through three goals each through Sanjay (17th, 32nd, 59th) and Hundal (40th, 50th, 51st). Uttam Singh (3rd minute, 47th), Shardanand Tiwai (35th, 53rd), skipper Vivek Sagar Prasad (8th), Maninder Singh (27th) and Abhishek Lakra (55th) were the other scorers.
France are leading Pool B with two wins from as many games, after beating Poland 7-1 on Thursday, while India are placed second.
India will meet Poland in their last pool fixture on Saturday.
Shocked by France on Wednesday, the Indians enjoyed the early share of possession and put pressure on the Canadian goal.
India’s efforts bore fruit immediately when Uttam slapped in from inside the circle to give them a 1-0 lead. The hosts then scored in the eight minute through skipper Vivek. India ended the first quarter with a 2-0 lead.
Soon after the resumption, India made it 3-0 in their favour when Sanjay scored from the spot. Two minutes from half time, India’s best player of the match, Maninder, registered his name in the scoresheet.
Seconds from the second quarter, Canada pulled a goal back through a penalty corner conversion from Roopkanwar Dhillon.
India earned their third penalty corner just after the change of ends and once again Sanjay was bang on target.
Shardanand Tiwari converted a penalty corner and extended their lead to 7-1 by converting another penalty corner in the 41st minute through Araijeet Hundal. Uttam scored his second goal of the day in the 47th minute, with a fine field strike.
Thereafter, it was all India as Hundal scored two goals in quick succession to register a hat-trick. There was more in store as seven minutes from the hooter, Tiwari converted his second penalty corner of the day to make it 11-1.
Abhishek Lakra also found his name in the scoresheetin the 55th minute before Sanjay converted yet another penalty corner in the final minute of the match. (PTI)
