India thrash Poland 7-0

Yuvraj Walmiki earned himself a great birthday gift, scoring the first goal to start his team’s goalspree and setting up the last as the Indians thrashed Poland 7-0 in their last league match of the Champions Challenge hockey tournament on Tuesday and finished on top of Group A.

The huge win allowed India to top of their group, ahead of Belgium on goal difference and will take on Malaysia in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Walmiki opened the scoring in the 19th minute when he deflected a long free hit from Manjeet Kulu past the goalkeeper. Four minutes later, Danish Mujtaba trapped a loose ball on the left flank, ran with it all the way inside the striking circle and effected a powerful reverse shot, Shivendra Singh getting his stick on in the last moment for India’s second goal in the 23th minute. Another opportunistic strike by Walmiki in the 33rd minute gave him his second and India’s third goal at half-time. After resumption, SV Sunil sent in a powerful powerful shot from the periphery of the circle for the fourth goal in the 44th minute.

Birender Lakra then slammed in a reverse drive in the 53rd minute before Khandker scored his brace in the 55th and 70th minutes to complete the tally.

Earlier, in Pool B action, Pedro Ibarra and Agustin Alejandro Mazzilli scored two goals each as Pan-American champions Argentina bounced back from a half-time deficit to outplay Malaysia 5-2 and top the group. Argentina finished with seven points through two wins and a draw.

Japan pulled off a surprise 2-1 victory over Canada to take the second spot in the four-team group while Belgium defeated South Africa 2-1.