Sub-Junior Asia Cup: Untested India awaits test of fire in Dhaka

Perhaps not the only team here in Maulana stadium, where the fourth Sub-Junior Asia Cup starts today, which suffers from want of international experience, Indian colts are on test of fire with Pakistan in the line up.

Any tournament in which Pakistan is present evokes interest in India and the outcome is going to count irrespective of kind of tournament, age group, host country, etc. More so, as tension building up across border on K-area and it echoes found in the recent United Nations General Assembly.

Twice title winners Pakistan, fresh with a test series win against visiting Oman, seems to have enough arsenal in its rank to pose tough challenge to inaugural event winner India in the knock out phase. Both teams on different pools.

Indian team, largely from the newly started National Hockey Academy, has not played any international match before landing capital city of neighbourhood nation four days ago.

However, captain Nilam Sanjeev Xess and his deputy Hardik Singh, lend exposure individually to the Indian team.

Defender Nilam Xess was part of South Asian Federation Games team which lost the final to Pakistan in Guwahati early in the year while he and Hardik toured England before Rio Olympics and rubbed shoulders against Scotland national team and England’s Junior National team.

Besides, two players have made Europe tour to Breda.

India is in the company of host and Oman whereas Pakistan pool has a team more.

India takes on Bangladesh in the last match of the first day, a win here will give right kind of confidence for the team.

India and Pakistan are expected to top their pool and thus avoid cross over semis and if both would emerge winners, which is likely, the final on 30th will be a mouth watering event.

Any lapse in the pool stage, like a draw or defeat will change the equation and the gifted neighbours will meet early in the semis.

India won the inagural U-18 Asia Cup in Ipoh, 2001. Came fourth in Yangoon (burma) four years later, and did not play last edition.

NOTE: your favourite site www.stick2hockey.com will bring reports and images directly from Dhaka.