Hockey Junior Asia Cup: Captain Anmol Ikka scores six goals as India demolish Chinese Taipei 15-0 to reach semi-finals

Photo credit: X/@TheHockeyIndia Captain Anmol Ikka scored six goals as defending champions India ended their pool campaign with a 15-0 win over Chinese Taipei to reach the semi-finals of the Junior Asia Cup men’s hockey tournament in Moqi, China on Wednesday.Anmol scored all six of his goals from penalty corners as India recovered from a scoreless first quarter to take complete control of the match for the remaining three quarters.India finished top of Group A with 10 points from three wins and a draw. South Korea also reached the semi-finals from the group after beating Japan 3-2 to finish second with nine points.Japan, Indonesia and Chinese Taipei have dropped out of contention for the title and will now play qualification matches.India dominated possession in the opening quarter but could not score against Chinese Taipei’s disciplined defence.Coach Frederic Soyez used the break in the first quarter to call for more intensity and India responded immediately.Aryan Xess opened the scoring in the 17th minute, a minute later Prabhdeep Singh doubled the lead. Gursewak Singh added India’s third goal in the 22nd minute as the team scored three goals in five minutes.Anmol then started his scoring run. He converted a penalty corner in the 25th minute for his first goal. Arjun Santosh Hargude made it 5-0 in the 28th minute before Anmol struck again from another penalty corner in the 29th minute.India went into half-time with a 6-0 lead.The defending champions continued to attack after the break, earning two penalty corners in the first three minutes of the third quarter.Anmol converted both chances to complete his hat-trick before adding another goal from a penalty corner to make it four.India’s ninth goal was scored in the 35th minute by Ajeet Yadav after another attacking save.Anmol was not done yet. He converted another penalty corner in the 45th minute to score his fifth goal of the match as India ended the third quarter with a 10–0 lead.India continued to score in the last quarter as well. Harpal scored a field goal in the 48th minute before Anmol converted his sixth penalty corner in the 51st minute.Harpal added his second goal of the match while Aryan Xess also completed a brace as India finished with a 15-0 victory to seal their place in the semi-finals.