India’s junior men’s hockey team did well on a tense night against Australia to claim the 10th Sultan’s Cup from Johor after a tense penalty shoot-out. The two teams drew 1-1 in normal time, after which nine penalty kicks were required to determine the winner.
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India won on penalties 5-4 and claimed their third Sultan of Johor Cup title.
Australia controlled the proceedings early in the exchange as captains Uttam Singh and Boby Singh Dhami tried to push India forward. The effort paid off when India broke the deadlock thanks to Sudeep Chirmako (14th minute). India entered the first half with a 1-0 advantage.
Looking to extend their lead in the second quarter, India started off on the right foot, with most of the game played in the Australian half.
During the quarter, the hunt for an equaliser from Australia intensified, and even if India took the pressure well, Jack Holland (29) scored. India and Australia entered the first half with the score 1-1.
Both teams returned for the second half with cautious approaches, not wanting to leave room for the opposition. In the middle of the quarter, India almost took the lead with Sudeep Chirmako, but neither team was able to beat each other until the quarter ended with a score of 1. -1.
In the final quarter played against the Sultan of Johor, India and Australia raised the pressure a few notches, which made it a very entertaining phase of the game. However, at the start of the last six minutes, the score was still a 1-1 draw.
Both teams gave their all but could not find a winner in regulation time as the final ended in a penalty shootout.
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