India produced a blistering all-round performance to demolish Oman 17-0 and notch their second straight victory at the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup in Madurai on Saturday. Coming off a commanding 7-0 win over Chile in their opener, the Indian colts raised their level further in a rain-soaked contest played under the after-effects of Cyclone Ditwah, delivering a performance that combined attacking flair with relentless intensity.
The scoreline reflected India’s dominance in every department. Arshdeep Singh, Manmeet Singh and Dilraj Singh stole the show with a hat-trick each, showcasing the depth and variety in India’s forward line. Arshdeep scored in the 4th, 33rd and 40th minutes, while Manmeet struck in the 17th, 26th and 36th. Dilraj added goals in the 29th, 32nd and 58th minutes, capitalising on rebounds and close-range opportunities.
India’s midfield and penalty-corner unit also flourished. Ajeet Yadav and Ingalemba Luwan Thouraojam both netted twice, with Ajeet finishing sharp field moves and Ingalemba converting through a blend of speed and awareness. Anmol Ekka, Gurjot Singh and Sharda Nand Tiwari contributed one goal each, ensuring India had ten different scorers across the two games so far.
India set the tone early. Just four minutes into the match, Arshdeep weaved past multiple defenders on the left flank before beating the Oman goalkeeper with a precise finish from an acute angle. Although India earned a flurry of penalty corners throughout the match, Oman goalkeeper Ahmed Al Naabi pulled off several sharp saves to delay the inevitable surge of goals. Once India settled into rhythm, however, the floodgates opened.
Despite heavy rain and swirling winds, India’s structure remained composed, and their transitions only became sharper. The third quarter saw India stretch their lead further with multiple goals in quick succession, including Gurjot’s penalty-corner variation and Tiwari’s penalty stroke.
Oman struggled to escape their own half as India pressed high and attacked in constant waves. With 17 goals scored and two clean sheets in two matches, India now head into their final Pool B fixture against unbeaten Switzerland on December 2 with strong momentum.
Elsewhere in the tournament, France hammered Korea 11-1, Australia edged Bangladesh 5-3, and Switzerland kept their unbeaten record intact with a narrow 3-2 win over Chile.
India, meanwhile, look well on course for a deep run in the competition.
– Ends
