Epic showdown! Archrivals Pakistan, India to clash in Junior Hockey final

MUSCAT: The Junior Hockey Asia Cup 2024 final is set to showcase an epic showdown between arguably the most famous and intense rivalry in the world: Pakistan vs India!

The Junior Hockey Asia Cup 2024 final between Pakistan and India will take place in Muscat, Oman at 9 pm Pakistan Standard Time (PST).

Read more: Pakistan reach Junior Asia Hockey Cup final after beating Japan

The showdown between the archrivals is expected to draw huge crowds and hockey fans.

The final can be viewed on the Oman Hockey Association’s YouTube channel.

Pakistan secured their place in the finals with the heart-stopping 4-2 victory over Japan. Proving why he is the captain, Hannan Shahid was instrumental in winning the semifinals. The 19-year-old secured two critical goals to keep his team in the lead.

Teammates Ali Basharat and Sufyan Khan each netted a goal to propel the Green Shirts into the finals. Sufyan Khan has also scored the most number of goals in this tournament (10).

Meanwhile, India advanced to the final after a closely fought 3-1 win against Malaysia. Dilraj Singh scored a goal within ten minutes of the semifinals.

Sharda Nand Tiwari and Rohit also scored a goal each to help their team reach the finals.

Malaysia’s Kamaruddin Azimuddin was the only one from his side to put up a commendable fight against India. He secured the lone goal for his side.

Both teams performed exceptionally well, ensuring South Asians dominated both pools of the Junior Hockey Asia Cup 2024.

The Indian team are defending champions, having won the tournament most number of times.

The archrivals encountered each other in a nail-biting final in 2023, as well. However, the Green Shirts were narrowly defeated by India (2-1).

Pakistan now has the chance to rewrite the ending in this year’s final against their archrivals!

Read more: Goal-getter Pakistan: Hard-hitting a 7-0 victory over Oman

Pool A standings

India dominated Pool A having won all four matches, with a score of 38 and 12 points.

Japan came in second place with three matches won and having lost a single one.

South Korea managed to come at third place with two matches won and two lost. Their score is 16, having earned 6 points only.

Thailand and Chinese Taipei sit at the bottom of Pool A with the former having won a single match and lost three, while the latter lost all four matches.

Pool B standings:

Pakistan is at the top of Pool B with four wins, a score of 24, and 12 points.

Malaysia is runner-up, having played four matches, with two won, one drawn and the last lost. Their score is 17, while they have earned 7 points.

Bangladesh is in third place with only a single match won, two drawn and one loss. Their score is 6, while they earned mere 5 points.

At the bottom of Pool B are China and hosts, Oman, respectively. The former won one match, lost two and drew one. Whereas, the latter lost all four matches.