India eying hat-trick in Malaysia

India will play the seventh Junior Men’s Asia Cup Hockey at Malacca, Malaysia from 3-13 May 2012.

The eight teams participating in this tournament are divided into two pools. According to the draws, India have been placed in pool B along with Pakistan, China and Sri Lanka while Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Iran are placed in pool A.

India will play their opening match against Sri Lanka on May 4 and will take on arch-rival Pakistan on May 6. India won the last two editions of the tournament at Karachi and Chennai in 2004 and 2008 respectively.

This tournament will be the qualifier for the FIH Junior Asia Cup to be held in 2013. The Indian team would be captained by striker Akashdeep Singh while defender Amit Rohidas will be the vice-captain.