India’s junior men’s hockey team clinched a thrilling bronze medal at the Sultan of Johor Cup after a nail-biting 3-2 shootout victory over New Zealand on Saturday. The match ended in a 2-2 stalemate in regulation time, setting the stage for a tense penalty shootout.
Goalkeeper Bikramjit Singh emerged as the hero for India, making three crucial saves in the shootout. Strikers Gurjot Singh, Manmeet Singh, and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha converted their penalties with precision, securing the victory for their team.
Earlier in the match, India had taken an early lead through goals from Dilraj Singh and Manmeet Singh. However, New Zealand fought back in the final quarter with goals from Owen Brown and Jonty Elmes, forcing the match into a shootout.
India started the match with a strong attacking display, creating several scoring opportunities. Dilraj Singh opened the scoring in the 11th minute, assisted by Mukesh Toppo. Manmeet Singh doubled India’s lead in the 20th minute with a brilliant field goal, assisted by Anmol Ekka and Mukesh.
New Zealand struggled to create scoring chances in the first half, but they came out with renewed determination in the fourth quarter. Brown scored in the 51st minute, assisted by Bradley Rothwell, and Elmes equalized in the 57th minute, setting up the dramatic shootout.
In the shootout, Bikramjit Singh made three outstanding saves, denying New Zealand’s attempts to score. Gurjot Singh, Manmeet Singh, and Kushwaha converted their penalties with confidence, securing the bronze medal for India.
