The Indian hockey team has won the Sultan Johor Cup 2022 final, maintaining its dominance for the third time. India beat Australia 5-4 in a thrilling penalty shootout at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on Saturday. With this win, India also ended their five-year title drought in the tournament.
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Talking about the match, India and Australia were tied 1-1 after regular time. After this, there was a shootout and here also both the teams reached a 3-3 draw. Now the match reached 'Sudden Death'. Finally, nine penalty shots were required to decide the winning team.
Earlier, both the teams had made a quick start with goalkeeper Mohith Shashikumar putting up a brilliant defense from the start. Australia dominated but Uttam Singh and Boby Singh Dhami tried to give India the lead. These efforts also paid off as India took a 1-0 lead through Sudeep Chirmako (14th minute) which lasted till the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Indian players continued their efforts for the lead. The Australian team also intensified the attack. Although the Indian defense remained steadfast. Then Jack Holland (in the 29th minute) scored a goal and brought his team to level. The score was 1-1 in the first half. In the second half, both the teams were cautious but could not score the winning goal and the match reached a shootout.
Uttam Singh scored twice in the shootout, including the one in Sudden Death. At the same time, Vishnukant Singh, Ankit Pal, Sudeep Chirmako also scored goals. Cooper Burns, Brodee Foster, Joshua Brooks, and Liam Hart scored for Australia.
Hockey India has announced rewards of Rs. 2 lakh for each participant in the 10th Sultan of Johor Cup 2022, as well as a Rs. 1 lakh reward for each support staff member.
ā Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 29, 2022
Congratulations, and well deserved.Ā š pic.twitter.com/j0mo7dKH4q
Notably, India has won the title in this age group tournament twice in 2013 and 2014. While the team finished second in 2012, 2015, 2018 and in the last leg four times in 2019.
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After the team's victory, Hockey India also vacated its bag for the players and on Saturday announced a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh for each player of the junior men's team that won the Sultan Johor Cup 2022. Apart from this, Hockey India also announced to give one lakh rupees to the support staff of the team.