K. ARUMUGAM

India made a winning start to the Junior World Cup beating raw South Korea 4-2, but coach CR Kumar may not be enthused. Establishing total control of the field proceedings in the first half, India fittingly took 3-0 lead but its grip on the game with rise of individual game inter alia and conceded twice on slight improvement shown by the Koreans.

We had only 15 days preparation. We lost 10-2 in the last Junior Asia Cup against India. Today, we made two goals. We are improving” said South Korean coach Hyeuk Im Bong in the post match briefing.

He was spot on. India on the other hand is well placed in this count; and its junior national progam is well known world wide.

However, today’s game did not inspire many especially coach CR Kumar. “I am happy we got a victory and with that three points. At the same time, I feel we need to be more controlled in the defence and clinical in the circle”.

He also attributed to low scoring to defensive Korea.

“When the other team plays totally defence you don’t get much of elbow room inside the circle.  Having said that I feel we gave them six penalty corners when we could manage just a solitary one. Boys need improvement” – CR Kumar did not mince.

Hiding some key players in the recently held Sultan of Johor Cup seems to be a well calculated strategy for the coach. He said, “yes, we did not play some key players, because we wanted to expose as many players as possible to internationa exposure. Further, to save key players from injury”.

Arajeet Hundal for instant was not part of the Sultan of Johor Cup, but came here and struck a hattrick.

Arajeet Hundal, who plays his second junior world cup struck a hattrick, when he rose to the team’s rescue. His goals came in the  11th, 16th and 41st minutes.

The lone other goal went to the stick of Amandeep Lakra.

Fittingly, the lanky Arajeet was declared the best player of the match.