The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : India geared up for final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 29, 2004

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Sport - Hockey

India geared up for final

KARACHI, APRIL 28. After achieving their main objective of obtaining a berth in the junior hockey World Cup, the Indians are all geared up to clinch their maiden Asia Cup title when they meet Pakistan in the final here tomorrow.

"The first task was to qualify for the next year's junior World Cup in Holland and since that has been achieved, our next target is to win our first Asian title," captain Sandeep Michael told PTI on Wednesday.

"We have been waiting for this moment for a year and a half and the boys are geared up to take Pakistan head on and take home the Asia Cup title."

The mouth-watering clash, the first between the archrivals on Pakistani soil in five years, follows a much-hyped cricket series between the neighbours, which India won earlier this month.

"We take inspiration from our cricket team's win here," said 21-year-old Michael from Bangalore.

Over the last two years, India has dominated the rivalry, downing Pakistan 2-0 in the four-nation junior tournament in Malaysia, drawing 1-1 at Cairo and then routing it 5-0 at Poland.

Penalty corner expert Sandeep Singh, who scored all the five goals in Poland, is again the main weapon for India, which is the reigning World Junior champion.

Singh, the tournament's top scorer with 14 goals, however failed to convert any of the four penalty corners and missed a penalty stroke in the 4-3 semifinal win over Korea on Tuesday.

"Korea blocked us and we had no clue as to what to do. We played defensive, which could have cost us dearly," Michael said. "Pakistan is a tough side and is playing at home. It would be a 50-50 for us."

Pakistan coach Asif Bajwa said the pressure has lessened, with both teams already having qualified for next year's junior World Cup.

"The performances of the junior teams from Pakistan and India prove that the future of hockey in both these countries is safe," he said.

Pakistan will also rely on captain Shakil Abbasi and penalty corner expert Imran Warsi to deliver in the final.

In two classification matches, China beat Singapore 2-0 to clinch the seventh position while Chinese Taipei won 3-2 against Sri Lanka to earn the eleventh spot.

Defending Asian junior champion Korea plays Malaysia in the play-off for the third and fourth places on Thursday and the winner will join India and Pakistan at the World Cup. — PTI

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