India's Junior Men's Hockey Team Dominates Indonesia in AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 Opener

India's Impressive Start at AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026

The Junior Men's Hockey Team of India kicked off their title defense at the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 with an astonishing 14-0 victory against Indonesia during their first Pool A match held in Moqi, China, on Saturday.

Key Players Shine in the Match

Leading the charge were Captain Anmol Ekka, Prabhdeep Singh, and Ajeet Yadav, who collectively netted 12 goals. Prabhdeep emerged as the standout player, scoring five goals and earning the 'Player of the Match' accolade. Anmol contributed four goals, while Yadav completed his hat-trick with three goals. Harpal and Ashu Maurya added two more goals to the tally, showcasing India's relentless offensive strategy throughout the game.

Match Overview

From the outset, India displayed aggressive attacking play, frequently penetrating the Indonesian circle and creating numerous scoring chances. Prabhdeep opened the scoring in the fifth minute, quickly followed by Harpal, who doubled the lead in the eighth minute. By the end of the first quarter, India had established a solid 2-0 lead.

India's Lead Grows Before Half-Time

The Indian forwards continued to exploit gaps in the Indonesian defense during the second quarter. Anmol scored his first goal in the 16th minute via a penalty stroke, and Yadav added another goal four minutes later, bringing the score to 4-0. Prabhdeep then scored twice more in the 26th and 30th minutes, completing his hat-trick and taking India to a commanding 6-0 lead at halftime.

Continued Dominance After the Break

The second half saw India maintain their dominance, controlling both possession and territory. Anmol was particularly effective, scoring from penalty corners in the 35th and 42nd minutes, bringing his total to four goals. Prabhdeep added another goal before the end of the third quarter, making it 9-0.

Final Quarter Goal Explosion

The last quarter was the most prolific, with India scoring five additional goals. Anmol completed his four-goal performance in the 51st minute, followed by Prabhdeep scoring again just a minute later. Yadav capped off his hat-trick with two goals in the 53rd minute, and Maurya finished the scoring in the 59th minute with a penalty corner goal, concluding the match at 14-0.

Goal Distribution and Standings

India's scoring was characterized by nine field goals, four penalty corner conversions, and one penalty stroke. Anmol successfully converted three penalty corners and the penalty stroke, while Maurya scored from the fourth set-piece. This defeat marked Indonesia's second consecutive loss, having previously fallen 0-9 to South Korea. They currently sit fifth in Pool A, trailing Chinese Taipei, who lost 0-7 to Japan. With three points from this match, India is tied with Japan and South Korea but leads Pool A on goal difference, marking a strong start to their campaign.