New Delhi, May 1: India beat Macau 8–1 in the U-18 Ice Hockey Asia Cup, with captain Gurtej Singh Bhatti leading the charge while scoring four goals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
India opened strongly and built an early lead, while staying in control through all three periods.
Ajay Dangi of Rajasthan opened the scoring for India, and with Bhatti scoring four goals, the team hit their stride as Itfiqar Hussain, Tanzin Tashi and Devansh Sharma added one goal each.
“We started with clear intent and maintained our pace through all three periods. The team created good opportunities and capitalised well. A quick self-assessment and response to the situation helped us come even stronger in the third period. It’s a strong result, but the focus is on staying consistent in the games ahead,” Bhatti said.
Harjinder Singh, General Secretary of the Ice Hockey Association of India, appreciated the performance and the team’s progress at the international level.
“The victory against Macau is a bold statement of intent from this young Indian side. The team showed excellent composure and adaptability, maintaining strong control across all three periods. This win reflects not just skill, but also growing maturity and belief,” he said.
The tournament features ice hockey teams from Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Macau (China), and India. (PTI)
