India thrash Nepal 21- 0in opening hockey match

INDIA opened their account on the second day of the 11th South Asian Games when the women’s cycling team earned a gold, while the men’s hockey team spanked inexperienced Nepal 21- 0 in a lop- sided match in Dhaka on Saturday.

The Indian squash duo of Sandip Jangra and Gaurav Nandrajog also assured the country at least one medal by advancing into the semi- final stage.

The women cycling quartet of Rameshwari Devi, Suchitra Devi, Mahidha Mohan and Rejani V reigned supreme in the 30- km road team trial at the Bangladesh Krida Shiksha Pratisthan ( BKSP) in Khulna to earn India their first medal.

Pakistan had to settle for silver while Sri Lanka won the bronze medal.

The Indians dominated the race from the beginning as they clocked 44 minutes 22.15 seconds, while Pakistan’s Ayesha Amin, Misbah Mushta Ali, Rahila Banu and Sidra Sadaf took 47: 04.06s.

Sri Lankans Lasanthi Krishna, Nilaka Shyamal, Nirushani Perera and Pushpo Rani had a timing of 47: 07.08s.

In hockey, it was complete domination by India at the Moulana Bhashani Stadium, where Ajitesh Roy led from the front banging five goals ( 15th, 58th, 59th, 66th and 68th minutes).

Yuvraj Walmiki and Mohammed Aamir Khan slammed the board three times each after India drew first blood in the 40th second. Walmiki opened the scoring and went on to score two more in the ninth and 64th minutes.

Mohammed Aamir banged in three goals in the seventh, 20th and 57th minutes of the match.

Pramod Kumar, V Raghunath and Hamza Mujtaba also chipped in with good performances.

Veteran 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 short corners in the 28th and 52nd minutes as the Indians goal glut continued against the Nepalese.

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

In another round robin league match, hosts Bangladesh began on a winning note beating Sri Lanka 3- 1.

Meanwhile, Jangra and Nandrajog assured India at least one medal by making the last four in the squash event at Dhaka Club.

In the final- four on Sunday, it will be India vs Pakistan with Jangra taking on world number 19 Aamir Atlas Khan, while Nandrajog will face Farhan Mahboob.

On Saturday, Jangra beat Sri Lanka’s Naveen while Nandrajog got the better of Swaresh, both with an identical 3- 1 scoreline.

In badminton, both Indian men and women players got byes to the semi- finals. There were six teams in the men’s section, while five teams featured in the women’s draw.

India and Nepal got byes leaving Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to play quarter- finals in the men’s section.

In men’s semi- finals on Sunday, India will take on hosts Bangladesh while Sri Lanka will face Nepal.

In the women’s section, India and Nepal, who got byes, will take on each other in the finalfour encounter.

The Indian men’s volleyball team overcame Sri Lanka 3- 1 in Mirpur.