LAHORE, March 13: Pakistan won the four-nation junior hockey tournament when they edged past arch-rivals India 2-0 after an ill-tempered final at the National Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

The Indians, who protested and argued on both the goals scored by Pakistan in each half, were not satisfied when Pakistan opened the scoring through captain Shakeel Abbasi in the 7th minute following a move initiated by Tariq Aziz.

Umpire Satoshi Konda disallowed the goal but later withdrew his decision after consulting fellow umpire Peter Wright after Pakistani players pressed that it was a goal. The reversal of the decision by Konda resulted in the protest from the Indian side.

Pakistan full-back Imran Warsi, declared the top-scorer of the tournament with seven goals, foiled an attempt by the Indians off the second short corner in the 20th minute.

Tariq received a green card in the 43rd minute two minutes later India’s Gurbaj Singh also got the same card for arguing the umpire when he asked for a penalty stroke instead of a short corner.

The Indians were again involved in protesting and arguing with umpire when Pakistan’s Kashif Yaqoob netted the second goal in the 52nd minute slamming a high ball into the goal.

Indian players gathered around umpire Peter Wright. Few even touched the umpire to convince him to disallow the goal. But the umpire did not change his mind.

Ajmer Singh, who was reacting more aggressively, was also shown a yellow card. The Indian team went out of the ground for a while but returned back later.

Six minutes later, Pakistan’s Imran Khan was also shown the yellow card in result of another skirmish.

Harendra Singh, the Indian coach had a different view on his players’ behaviour.

“That was not the protest. I called the players to protect the umpire as the situation could have become ugly since the boys are young,” he opined.

“But I will put more blame on public and the media who flared up the players with their attitude and writings,” he remarked.

“Did only one team show short temper,” he asked.

He admitted that the attitude of the players affected the performance and deprived the public of good hockey.

Pakistan coach Tahir Zaman said “the boys are young and could not control themselves, but the situation was not that serious as no one was injured,”

The Indian coach said that he had five to six players at home who could not tour Pakistan and with their induction his team would be a different side in the next six-nation tournament to be held in Malaysia. He said that the Pakistan had improved their game.

Tahir said the victory was necessary to end the victory draught.

“Though the tournament was not so high-profile, the victory boosted the morale of the boys,” he said, hinting that changes in the team could be made before finalising the World Cup squad.

A total amount of Rs1.7 million was announced for the winning squad by different sponsors and the Pakistan Hockey Federation.

Earlier, South Africa beat Japan 4-2 to finish third.

For South Africa, Pierre Geldenhuys scored back-to-back goals in the 31st and 37th minute, converting penalty corners. South Africa went 3-0 ahead when Matthew McConkey struck in the 50th minute.

Japan made it 3-1, scoring through Masato Hikigi in the 59th minute. South Africa completed the tally when Lungile Tsolekile scored a field goal in the 61st minute before Japan reduced the margin in the dying moments through Hiroto Noda.

Pakistan goalkeeper Nasir Ahmad was declared as the best goalie. India’s Hari Prasad was named the best player of the tournament.