A resurgent Indian team put up a dominating display by scripting an emphatic 13-1 victory over Canada in a Pool B game of the Junior Men's Hockey Stadium at the Kalinga Stadium on Thursday.
India started aggressively as Uttam Singh opened the account for the hosts by scoring as early as in the second minute of the match. He deflected a cross from the left flank of the net to beat the goal keeper.
India colts continued with the same tempo despite a stiff resistance by the opponents. Skipper Vivek Prasad Sagar doubled the lead for India in the eighth minute with some brilliant maneuvering.
Canada came back strongly and earned successive penalty corners in the 12th minute. But their attempts were foiled by the agile custodian Prashant Chauhan. Thereafter, the hosts also got a couple of opportunities, but couldn't cash in. India finished the first quarter with 2-0 lead.
The hosts continued in the same vein in the second quarter and earned a penalty stroke in the 17th minute which was dully converted by Sanjay to increase India's lead to 3-0. Maninder Singh added another goal to the tally in the 27th minute with a powerful strike from the left flank.
However, in the last minute of the second quarter, Canada showed signs of improvement and converted a penalty corner to reduce the margin to 1-4.
India's surge also continued after the halftime as Sanjay converted another penalty corner in the 33rd minute to increase the lead to 5-1. The hosts scored their sixth goal from another penalty corner shortly after two minutes. The penalty spree continued for India as Arjjt Singh Jindal got it converted in the 40th minute to stretch the lead to 7-1.
Uttam Singh scored his second and India's eighth goal in the 47th minute with a lightening strike from the right flank. Canada tried to retaliate immediately after a minute, but failed to capitalise on a penalty corner. India came back strongly and Arjeet struck in the 5oth minute. He scored again just after a minute to give India an almost unassailable 10-1 lead. The 53rd minute saw another penalty corner piercing into the net.
India went on with their penalty spree and capitalised on it in the 56th minute for an impressive 12-1 lead. Sanjay extended it further to 13-1 in the 58th minute to complete the drubbing.