Colts taste success with big win over Belgium

BERLIN, AUG 17: After two big losses to Holland, the Indian junior hockey team tasted victory for the first time on the current European ...

BERLIN, AUG 17: After two big losses to Holland, the Indian junior hockey team tasted victory for the first time on the current European tour when they swamped Belgium 7-0 (3-0) at Amstelveen, Netherlands last night.

The under-21 men’s team, which was thrashed 0-5 and 1-6 by the vastly-superior Dutch boys, dominated the weaker Belgians in a morale-boosting warm-up win ahead of next week’s eight-nation Junior Challenge Open Tournament at Poznan, Poland.

Half-back Arjun Halappa was the top scorer with two goals — both off penalty strokes.

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Full-back L Ayyappa drew first blood for the visitors in the 8th minute, converting the team’s first penalty corner. Asad Khan, Bimal Lakra, Prabjot Tirkey and Inderjit Singh were the other scorers — all striking field goals.

The Belgians, who wasted four penalty corners, made sporadic attempts but were foiled by a strong Indian defence.

“The victory has given our boys a tremendous confidence and a boost ahead of next week’s Junior Challenge Open Tournament,”said coach CR Kumar.

India and Belgium are in the same pool along with Germany and Egypt in the Poznan tournament.

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Kumar said most of the Belgiam players had appeared in the 1997 Junior World Cup, unlike most of the Indian players.