MUSCAT: Bangladesh beat a spirited Oman 2-0 in their opening Junior Asia Cup hockey match in Salalah late on Tuesday.
Mohammed Ali and Mohammed Hossain struck two field goals in 22nd and 24th minutes respectively which Oman had no answer in the Pool B match at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex Pitch 1 in Salalah.
On Wednesday, heavyweights South Korea made a strong start to their campaign with a 6-1 win against Uzbekistan in Pool B.
South Korea went ahead in the third minute with a penalty corner goal from Minkwon Kim.
Seunghwan Lee made it 2-0 for them in the 18th minute. Kim found his second goal after a good Korean move in the 35th minute to make it 3-0.
South Korea extended their lead to 4-0 in the 44th minute as Sungmin Lee struck the target from a penalty corner.
Uzbekistan, who suffered a 7-1 defeat against Japan in their first match, pulled one goal back through a field goal from Shavkatjon Kakhramonov in the 50th minute.
However, Geonwoo Park’s field goal in the 56th minute made the result beyond doubt while Keonyeol Hwang completed the 6-1 scoreline in the final minute from a penalty corner.
INDIA HAMMER TAIPEI
In the second match on Wednesday, favourites India smashed Chinese Taipei 18-0 to start their campaign in style.
With the biggest margin of win in the tournament so far, India raced to top of Pool A leapfrogging Pakistan, who had also posted a thumping 15-1 win against the Chinese Taipei.
India, Pakistan and Japan have three points each in Pool A but the superior goal difference put India on top followed by Pakistan and Japan.
Araijeet Singh Hundal sizzled for India with four goals which included a field goal hat-trick (19th and 30th minutes). Hundal added another field goal in the 59th minute.
Amandeep netted three goals (37, 38, 41) while Uttam Singh (10, 59), Boby Singh Dhami (10, 46) and Boby Poovanna India Chandura (39, 54) scored a brace each.
Other scorers were Sharda Nand Tiwari (11-pc), Angad Bir Singh (37), Aditya Arjun Lalage (37), Amir Ali (51-pc) and Yogember Rawat (60th minute) who all found the target once.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
