India win jr. Asian hockey

India whipped Japan 4-1 in the final to win the inaugural Asian Hockey Federation Cup championship for girls under-18 at the King's Park ground in Hong Kong on Sunday.

So fluent was India's victory that the final fell short of expectations. It was also sweet revenge for India as it had suffered a 1-2 reverse against the same team on the opening day of the tournament.

India had six penalty-corners to Japan's four, but India's domination was so pronounced it did not really matter that the margin of penalty-corner conversion was not on par with its level of play.

Nilima Kujur converted a penalty-corner in the seventh minute to put the Indians ahead. The award came when skipper Surinder Kaur wove her way into the circle only to be halted in her tracks.

Annarita Kerketta got into the act making the most of the melee to push home in the 15th minute.

The Indians were in no mood to sit on their 2-0 lead. A peach of a penalty corner goal from Surinder Kaur (44th) saw them go 3-0 up. Surinder Kaur was again in the thick of action delightfully packing a reverse hit home even while she lay sprawling on the ground. That came in the 52nd minute and as a contest, the final was all over by then.

Japan were not to be denied a consolation goal. From a melee, Erika Miwa was a little sharp to place home, getting the better of the crowded defence in the 56th minute.

With a haul of 13 goals, skipper Surinder Kaur bagged the prize for the highest scorer and Mamata Kharb clinched the award for the best player of the tournament.

Earlier, Hong Kong took the third place beating Sri Lanka 2-0. Sandra Frankland (31st) and Christina Lind (44th) were the scorers.