New Delhi: The Indian Men’s Junior Hockey Team is gearing up to face their traditional rivals, Pakistan, in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup Final. Ahead of this highly anticipated match, Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, fellow Olympian Gagan Narang, and veteran cricketer Harbhajan Singh shared their encouraging messages for the team on Wednesday, urging them to bring the trophy home.
As the defending champions, India aims to retain their title against Pakistan in this crucial final.
In his message, Bindra congratulated the young team for their semi-final victory over Malaysia and expressed his excitement for the final. He stated, “Congratulations to our Indian junior hockey team for their outstanding win against Malaysia in the semi-finals. Reaching the Junior Asia Cup final is a tremendous achievement, and you’ve already made the country proud. As you step onto the field against Pakistan tonight, remember to enjoy the moment and play with passion. Trust your skills, support each other, and maintain that fighting spirit. We’re all rooting for you. Good luck and Jai Hind!”
Harbhajan Singh also sent his best wishes in a video message, saying, “A big shoutout to the Indian Hockey Team playing the final of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup today against Pakistan. I wish you all the best on the field; go win it for India. I believe in you. Come on, India!”
Narang added his support on X, encouraging fans to cheer for the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team as they face Pakistan in the final. He highlighted that the team, coached by his friend @imprsreejesh and @TheHockeyIndia, is just one step away from making history by becoming the first team in Asia to win the title five times. “Good luck, India!” he wrote.
The Indian team has shown remarkable form throughout the tournament, winning all five of their matches. Their victories include an impressive 11-0 win over Thailand, a close 3-2 win against Japan, a dominant 16-0 victory over Chinese Taipei, and an 8-1 triumph against Korea in the group stage. In the semi-finals, India secured a strong 3-1 win over Malaysia to advance to the final.