HYDERABAD (India), July 12: Three title favourite teams, including Pakistan, all grabbed victories on the opening day of 6th Junior Asia Cup men’s field hockey tournament at the Gatchibowli Stadium on Friday.

While the record three-time champions Pakistan struggled to overcome one of the eight-Nation tournament’s weakest outfits, Oman, 5-1, title-holders India beat doughty Japan 2-0 with another former champion South Korea demolishing minnows Bangladesh 8-0.

Abdul Haseem Khan, nephew of former captain Abdul Hanif Khan, slammed home four goals for Pakistan who led 3-0 at halftime but survived anxious moments in the second period.

Muhammad Zubair opened scoring in the 11th minute for Pakistan who failed to convert any of their penalty corners, adding to the worries of Chief Coach Jehangir Butt.

On the other hand, South Korea were ruthless in their penalty corner conversion, making good of eight of the 11 set-pieces that they earned. Nam Hyun Woo led the scoring spree with three goals, followed by Lim Woo Geun (two) and Seo Jun Su, Lee Dong Hyun and Bae Jang Suk (one each).

The reigning champions India scored once in each half off short corners, through Manjit Singh and Danish Mujtaba, to make a scrappy start in their campaign to win the title a second time. Pakistan had won the first three tournaments but lost 0-5 to India in the final at home in the last edition at Karachi in 2004. India have nine players who are also members of their regular senior side.

In the first match of the day, Singapore squandered a 0-2 lead to hold Malaysia to a 2-2 draw.

India, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore are in Pool ‘A’ of the preliminary round while Pakistan, Oman, South Korea and Bangladesh form Pool ‘B’. The top two teams from each pool will clash in the semi-finals. —APP