Junior hockey teams make solid starts at qualifiers

Bangkok: The junior Indian men and women’s hockey teams began their campaign at the Youth Olympic Qualifiers with emphatic wins here on Wednesday.

The women’s team blanked Singapore 14-0 while the men’s side beat home team Thailand 25-0.

In their first Pool ‘B’ match, the women’s team opened their account in the second minute via a goal from Sangita Kumari. Three minutes later, Mumtaz doubled the lead with vice-captain Lalremsiami adding to the tally in the seventh minute.

Meanwhile, the junior men’s team gave no home ground advantage to Thailand. Seven goals in first period and 10 in the second and eight in third left the Thailand team gasping for breath.

Mohammad Alishan with six goals and Rahul Kumar Rajbhar with five did the bulk of scoring.