Indian colts defeated host Bangladesh 5-4 to win the Under-18 Asia Cup hockey tournament last week at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium, Dhaka. India thus revenged their 4-5 loss to the host in the opening match of the fourth edition of the tournament. According to Hockey India, the winning goal came in the final 20 seconds of the match. Earlier, the Nilam Sanjeep Xess-led side defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 to make the final. Hosts Bangladesh, competing in the tournament after 15 years, beat Chinese Taipei 6-1 to reach their maiden final. Indian Vice captain Hardik Singh was adjudged Man of the Match. India had won the inaugural tournament in 2001.
In the final, after conceding the first goal, India struck immediately to level the score 1-1 at half-time. India then took a two-goal lead as soon as the third quarter started, only to see the score level at 3-3. The script continue as India's lead was once again neutralized by a spirited Bangladeshi side, in a front of buoyant home crowd. But India scored the all-important fifth goal in the dying seconds of the match.
