Buenos Aires: The Indian U-18 men’s hockey team registered Tuesday their third consecutive win of the Youth Olympic Games and their second on the day, as they thrashed Kenya 7-1 after overpowering Austria 9-1 in their Hockey 5s Pool B matches here at the Parque Polideportivo Roca.
In the match against Kenya, Sudeep Chirmako (fifth and 10th) and Rabichandra Moirangthem (fifth,11th) scored twice each while skipper Vivek Sagar Prasad (eighth), Sanjay (14th) and Rahul Kumar Rajbhar (17th) struck one apiece. Kenya’s only goal came in the seventh minute through Olanda Ouma.
Earlier, the Indian colts continued their winning start to the campaign as Sudeep (sixth, 11th, 14th and 18th minutes) and Shivam Anand (fourth, 10th and 17th) scored hat-tricks. Sanjay (second) and captain Vivek (13th) scored the other goals for India. Austria’s only goal came through Paul Drusany in the eighth minute.
Sanjay put India ahead inside opening two minutes before Shivam coming into act two minutes later to double the advantage. Sudeep scored his first of the match two minutes later to extend the Indians’ lead further.
But Austria somehow managed to pull one back through Paul, which was proved to be the only Austrian goal for the game. However, Shivam scored his second just before the break to make it 4-1 for India.
After the change of ends, Sudeep pounced on a counter to make the scores 5-1 in India’s favour. Vivek extended the lead in the 13th minute before Sudeep completing his hat-trick in the very next minute. Shivam too completed his treble three minutes later before Sudeep wrapped up the game with his fourth goal in the match.
With the win, India go top of the Group B standings with three wins in as many games. The colts will next face Australia, Thursday.