Angad Bir Singh scored four goals as India came up with a scintillating performance to thrash minnows Thailand 17-0 in a Pool A fixture in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023, making it to the semifinals with an unbeaten record.

With this victory on Sunday, the Indian junior men’s hockey team recovered from the 1-1 draw with Pakistan and finished the group stage of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 unbeaten.

The scorers for India were Angad Bir Singh (13′, 33′, 47′, 55′), Yogember Rawat (17′), Captain Uttam Singh (24′, 31′), Amandeep Lakra (26′, 29′), Araijeet Singh Hundal (36′), Vishnukant Singh (38′), Bobby Singh Dhami (45′), Sharda Nand Tiwari (46′), Amandeep (47′), Rohit (49′), Sunit Lakra (54′) and Rajinder Singh (56′).

The Indian junior men’s team began the contest on the front foot, attacking Thailand with regularity, but were unable to break through in the early exchanges. Thailand not only absorbed the pressure but also looked to attack India, who however edged ahead just before the end of the first quarter when Angad Bir Singh (13′) found the back of the net.

Early in the second quarter, India captain Uttam Singh eased through the Thailand defense on the right before Yogember Rawat (17′) doubled the advantage.

The Indians were starting to take control of the contest, and before the half ended, captain Uttam Singh (24′) also got on the scoresheet, scoring from close range.