New Delhi: The Indian junior men’s hockey team produced a spirited performance to hold Pakistan to a thrilling 3-3 draw in their third group-stage match of the Sultan of Johor Cup on Tuesday. The contest saw momentum swing dramatically as India fought back from two goals down to take the lead, only for Pakistan to find a late equaliser and split the points.
For India, Araijeet Singh Hundal (43’), Sourabh Anand Kushwaha (47’) and Manmeet Singh (53’) were on target, while Pakistan’s goals came through Hannan Shahid (5’) and Sufyan Khan (39’, 55’). The result keeps India unbeaten in the tournament so far.
India started the game with high intensity, controlling possession and pressing deep into Pakistan’s circle. However, Pakistan capitalised on a swift counterattack to earn a penalty stroke early in the match. Captain Hannan Shahid calmly converted to put his side ahead. Minutes later, Sufyan Khan doubled the lead from a penalty corner, putting India under pressure.
The Indian side refused to give in and continued to attack relentlessly. Their efforts were rewarded late in the second quarter when Hundal successfully converted a penalty stroke to make it 2-1. Building on that momentum, Kushwaha levelled the scores soon after with a powerful strike that beat the goalkeeper all ends up.
Sensing an opportunity, India switched to an all-out attacking strategy in the third quarter. Their dominance paid off when Manmeet Singh found the net, giving India a 3-2 lead and sparking celebrations on the bench.
But Pakistan weren’t done yet. In the dying minutes, Sufyan Khan struck again from close range to make it 3-3 and deny India a memorable win.
Despite the draw, India’s fightback and attacking display earned praise from fans and coaches alike, with the team showing character and composure against their arch-rivals. The result sets up an exciting finish to the group stage as both teams chase a place in the knockout rounds.
