Karachi: Tushar Khandekar scored a hat-trick as India outplayed arch-rivals Pakistan 5-2 in the final to clinch their maiden junior Asia Cup hockey title in Karachi today (Apr 29, 2004).

Khandekar, one of the most promising forwards in Indian hockey, and Sandeep Singh, who scored two goals, helped India win the first match between the two sides on Pakistani soil in five years.

Pakistan, who were trailing 4-0 at one stage, made a spirited effort to take the fight to the Indian camp but were undone by some poor finishing and failure to convert a number of penalty corners.

Their two goals came through Tariq Aziz and penalty corner expert Imran Warsi in the second half.

India were tight in their defence and purposeful in attack which in the end reaped rich dividends for the team.

Khandekar's all three strikes were field goals whereas Sandeep Singh, the highest scorer in the tournament with 16 goals, scored both his goals through perfectly placed drag flicks.

Score:

India 5 (Tushar Khandekar-3, Sandeep Singh-2) beat Pakistan 2 (Tariq Aziz, Imran Warsi).