India thrash Nepal 21-0 in South Asian Games opener

DHAKA: Skipper Ajitesh Roy led from the front with five goals as the Indian hockey team mauled an inexperienced Nepal 21-0 to make a resounding start at the 11th South Asian Games on Saturday.

Such was India’s domination in the match that even coach Clarence Lobo lost count of the team’s goal scorers.

Asked how many goals did Man-of-the-Match Roshan Minz score, the amazed coach turned to one of the players for an answer.

According to the coach, India fielded a second string side captained by Ajitesh Roy but the completely inexperienced Nepal, who incidentally featured in their second international outing after 10 years, crumbled nonetheless.

Nepalese, who were playing after featuring in the 1995 Games in Chennai, were playing on the artificial turf for the first time.

It was complete domination by India as Roy led from the front, banging in five goals in the 15th, 58th, 59th, 66th and 68th minutes.

Indian forwards Yuvraj Walmiki and Mohammed Aamir Khan slammed the board thrice each. India drew first blood in the fourth minute through Walmiki who went on to score two more in the ninth and 64th minutes.

Mohammed Aamir banged in three in the seventh, 20th and 57th minutes of the match. Pramod Kumar, Raghunath V and Hamza Mujtaba scored a brace each.

Veteran defender Raghunath converted penalty corners in the 13th and 50th minutes, while forward Pramod sounded the board in the 17th and 44th minutes.

Forward Mujtaba also converted two penalty corners in the 28th and and 52nd minutes as the hapless Nepalese scurried for cover.

Belsajar Horo (10th), Innocent Kulu (31th from PC), Roshan Minz (40th) and Dharamvir Singh (69th) completed the scoreline.

In another round-robin match, hosts Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka 3-1 in a tight contest. Both teams were locked 1-1 at half-time, but the hosts went ahead after the changeover.

Five teams — the other being Pakistan — vie for the top three spots in the hockey tournament. There is no women’s hockey competition in the event.

The top two teams will feature in the summit clash, while the third and fourth placed teams will compete in a bronze medal play-off.