K. ARUMUGAM
Indian girls made India proud today when they successfully defended their Junior Asia Cup title in Muscat, beating fighting Chinese on shoot out. The victory must be a momentous occasion for the young Indian coach ‘Toofan’ Tushar Khandker. Its a delightful double for the former centre-forward of Indian team, who used to beat even the best of defenders in his heydays. He won the Junior Asia Cup exactly 20 years ago as a player at Karachi, Pakistan. Now, the former Olympian gets it for his girls as chief coach in Muscat.
Its remarkable that India holds both men and women’s Junior Asia Cup title, as Tushar’s contemporary PR Sreejesh’s colts too won the Jr Asia Cup a fortnight ago at the same venue.
Jyoti Singh led India lost to the Chinese in the league, but rose to expectations yesterday when met hitherto unbeaten Japan in the semis. Striking three goals in the space of ten minutes in the first quarter itself, India stunned Japan to set aside their challenge at 3-1. This was result of aggressive approach adopted by Tushar.
Today, it was a struggle, but patient Indians were not unnerved by the Chinese reputation of not losing a match till now, and in the process beat India 2-1.
India ultimately won the top honours on shootout route, but it was necessitated when it faced a rather harsh penalty stroke award about 20 seconds from barren first half. Nidhi, who did her best so far could not stop Chinese captain seeing the stroke blossoming into a goal.
Nidhi helped India in a big way 30 minutes later in the ensued shoot out. She stopped three Chinese shooters from scoring thus paving way Indian strikers to strike goals in the cruelling shoot out.
Tushar, who also won Sub-Jr Asia Cup as a thundering centre-forward, must be a happy man today. He has for some quite years been coach of the women’s team under other Chief Coaches. Now, taking the mantle for himself, he has given India moments of joy at Muscat.
Pic: K. Arumugam