Malacca (Malaysia), May 3 (IANS) Two-times defending champions India will play against Sri Lanka in their opening match of the seventh Junior Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament here Friday.

The eight teams participating in this tournament are divided into two pools and according to the draws, India have been placed in pool B along with Pakistan, China and Sri Lanka while Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Iran are placed in pool A.
Indian Coach Baljeet Singh Saini is confident that the India team will make a strong start in the tournament.
“Our initial target is to make it to the semi-finals and from there on it is a question of progressing all the way to the title” said Baljeet.
“The team has prepared well and is raring to go. I am confident that the players have the ability to do well in this tournament.” he said.
India won the last two editions of the tournament at Karachi and Chennai in 2004 and 2008 respectively. This tournament will be the qualifier for the FIH Junior World Cup to be held in 2013.
Indian team will be captained by striker Akashdeep Singh while defender Amit Rohidas is the vice-Captain.

Malacca (Malaysia), May 3 (IANS) Two-times defending champions India will play against Sri Lanka in their opening match of the seventh Junior Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament here Friday.

The eight teams participating in this tournament are divided into two pools and according to the draws, India have been placed in pool B along with Pakistan, China and Sri Lanka while Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Iran are placed in pool A.
Indian Coach Baljeet Singh Saini is confident that the India team will make a strong start in the tournament.
“Our initial target is to make it to the semi-finals and from there on it is a question of progressing all the way to the title” said Baljeet.
“The team has prepared well and is raring to go. I am confident that the players have the ability to do well in this tournament.” he said.
India won the last two editions of the tournament at Karachi and Chennai in 2004 and 2008 respectively. This tournament will be the qualifier for the FIH Junior World Cup to be held in 2013.
Indian team will be captained by striker Akashdeep Singh while defender Amit Rohidas is the vice-Captain.