India demolish Singapore in junior World hockey

SINGAPORE - Indian skipper Diwakar Ram pumped four goals to lead his side to a 10-0 demolition of co-hosts Singapore in their opening Group D encounter in the junior hockey World Cup at the Seng Kang Sports and Recreation Centre here Monday.

India, the dark horses in the 20-team tournament, pounded on Singapore with relentless forays right from the start.

Diwakar (15 min, 18, 29, 66) converted four penalty corners. Striker Danish Mujtaba (5, 51, 55), slotted three goals while Dharamveer Singh (26), Mandeep Antil (29) and Vivek (47) scored one each.

India earned two penalty corners with their first move of the match but squandered both.

Mujtaba then gave finishing touch to a fast move through the right flank to open the floodgates.

Drag-flick expert Diwakar then struck two quick goals in a span of three minutes, converrting the third and fourth penalty corners and India had a 3-0 cushion by the 17th minute.

The forwardline kept the pressure on the hosts defence and Dharamveer Singh scored through one such move. Singh trapped the ball from Manjit Kullu near the centre of the circle and scooped the ball inside the goalpost.

India then struck twice in the 29th minute, Diwakar converted the fifth penalty corner while Antil took advantage of a goalmouth meelee to sneak one past goalkeeper Foo Brian.

The writing was on the wall when the teams went to the break with India leading 6-0.

The second half saw India continue with the same intensity, but the forwards missed a few close chances and Diwakar wasted two short corners.

After a brief lull, Antil brilliantly dodged past a host of defenders from the right flank and gave a timely pass to Vivek, who tapped the ball inside in the 47 minute.

Mujtaba then found two more goals, one off a penalty corner to swell the lead to 9-0.

Diwakar converted India’s 10th penalty corner to make it 10-0.

India will take on New Zealand Tuesday.