Junior Hockey Asia Cup: Pakistan confident to continue winning streak against India

Pakistan can qualify for semi-finals after win against India

KARACHI (Web Desk) – Pakistan junior hockey team is confident of doing well against a strong Indian side in its Pool A encounter in Salalah, Oman on Saturday. 

Pakistan have secured two successive wins in their first two matches of Junior Hockey Asia Cup 2023. A win in the match will secure Pakistan’s berth in the semi-finals. In the first two games against much weaker sides, Pakistan defeated Chinese Taipei by 15-1 and Thailand 9-0

These matches gave the debutant players some much-needed exposure before the key clashes against India and Japan. A member of Pakistan team management in Oman said the boys were not feeling the pressure and were confident and motivated for Saturday's clash.

He said as far as skills and talent were concerned, Pakistani players were not behind any top team. The players gained a lot of confidence by scoring several goals in the first two games. He said the players were implementing the game plan given by the team’s consultant Roland Oltmans, who was training them as per today’s requirement,he added.

He maintained that whatever the boys had learnt in the training and pra ice matches so far, they had demonstrated well. The drag flickers Sufyan Khan, Arbaz and the forward Abdul Rehman played well in the first two games, the member said.

He said now their big test would be in the next two games against India and Japan, in which they would have to be mentally strong and try to avoid mistakes. India are the fifth-ranked team, and even their juniors have had a lot of international exposure.

However, Pakistan's team management is upbeat.The official said they were not feeling the pressure considering the strength of the Indian side and the well-equipped facilities and international matches they had got. At this level, anything could happen.

He said Pakistani team would go with a big heart. “We also have marked their weaknesses,” the official added.