KARACHI: Harmanpreet Singh slammed four goals, all off penalty corners, as India bulldozed three-time former champions Pakistan 6-2 in the one-sided final to regain the juniors Asia Cup in the Malaysian city of Kuantan on Sunday. The winners led 3-1 at half time.

Harmanpreet’s three goals came in the first half in 10th, 15th and 30th minutes while he added the fourth in 53rd minute. Amaan Qureshi and Manpreet scored once in 44th and 50th minutes to pour salt on Pakistan’s wounds.

Pakistan managed to score twice, once in each half, through Mohammad Yaqoob off penalty corner in 28th minute and Mohammad Dilber in the 68th minute.

Harmanpreet hits four in 6-2 win

The triumph helped India equal Pakistan’s feat by winning the title for an overall third time since inception with the previous two being in 2004 and 2008.

Earlier, South Korea whipped Japan 2-1 to seize third position in the eight-nation contest.

In the other classification matches, host and defending champions Malaysia thrashed Bangladesh 8-0 to finish fifth while China grabbed seventh position by getting the better of Oman 7-2.

Final positions: 1-India, 2-Pakistan, 3-South Korea, 4-Japan, 5-Malaysia, 6-Bangladesh, 7-China, 8-Oman.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2015