India ease past hosts in opener

Singapore, June 8: Skipper Diwakar Ram led from the front, scoring five goals, as former champions India opened their campaign in style by crushing co-hosts Singapore 10-0 in the Junior World Cup hockey tournament here on Monday.

Diwakar Ram flicked five goals from penalty corners in the 15th, 18th, 29th, 55th and 66th minutes at the Seng Kang Sports Complex.

This is also the highest victory margin so far in the event, being co-hosted by Singapore and Malaysia.

India dominated the proceedings from the start.

They attacked at will with perfect coordination between the midfielders and the forwards.

India, who led 6-0 at the break, scored their other goals through Danish Mujtaba (5th and 51st), Dharamvir Singh (26th), Mandip Antil (30th) and Vivek (47th) minute.

The Indian flankmen Mandip Antil and Mohd. Amir Khan tore apart the seams of the Singapore defence and fed strikers Danish Mujtaba, Pramod Kumar and Jay Karan as they successfully won penalty corners in quick succession.

India play New Zealand in their Pool D match on Tuesday.

In an earlier Pool D match, Holland registered their second successive win by beating Poland 7-2.

In other matches, Germany beat South Africa 4-0. Argentina thrashed Russia 9-3, while Pakistan beat Egypt 3-0. — PTI