The Tribune: Colts thrash Oman to enter semifinals

Kuantan (Malaysia), Nov 19

Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh slammed a hat-trick as India thrashed Oman 9-0 to enter the semifinals of the eighth Men’s Junior Asia Cup here today.

Besides Harmanpreet, who found the opposition net in the seventh, 12th and 50th minutes, Arman Qureshi (10th), Gurjant Singh (18th), Santa Singh (22nd), Mandeep Singh (30th), skipper Harjeet Singh (45th) and Mohammad Umar (54th) were the other scorers.

The Indians will now face Japan in the semifinals on Saturday.

India started on an attacking note and were soon rewarded with a penalty stroke, which was clinically converted by Harmanpreet. Harmanpreet struck again by converting a penalty corner.

The Indians toyed with Oman’s defence and pumped in four more goals to take a commanding 6-0 lead at halftime.
India continued in the same way after the change of ends with Harjeet adding another goal to the tally. Harmanpreet then converted another penalty corner, taking his tournament tally to eight goals, to score his first hat-trick in the tournament. Umar then rounded off the tally for India.

“The performance against Oman will give us a lot of confidence. A win with such a huge margin will help us come back to the training grounds with a lot of energy and strive for more in the upcoming semifinal. We are taking one step at a time and are focussed on the semifinal,” said coach Harendra Singh. — PTI