India Juniors shocked a less energetic Youngster Hockey Club, Pakistan, while India Dark Blues registered a thumping win over Telekom Malaysia in the 16th Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey tournament at the Shivaji stadium in Delhi on Friday.
India Juniors beat Youngster Club 3-1 while India Dark Blues thrashed the Malaysian side 6-0.
In Saturday's final, top-placed India Light Blues will lock horns with Dark Blues.
India Juniors put up a good fight against the Pakistani team. Gurtej Preet opened the scoring in the third minute. However, two minutes later, Pakistan international Akhtar Ali levelled scores, converting a penalty-corner.
In the 52nd minute of the second half, Mayur Subbaiah's goal off a penalty-corner put the juniors ahead.
Five minutes before close, Vijay Alphonso sounded the board to see his side through 3-1.
The juniors played more aggressively to earn six penalty-corners. Ravi Kumar was adjudged the man-of-the-match.
The inconsequential match between Telekom Malaysia and India Dark Blues, who rested their skipper and midfielder Viren Rasquinha and ace striker Prabhjot Singh, was completely one-sided.
Suresh Kumar and Didar Singh scored a brace each for IDBs. Bimal Lakra hit a well-directed shot to beat the goalkeeper while Arjun Halappa netted in the final minutes.
