India’s hockey team has swept into the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 final like a monsoon storm. In the decisive pool match against Canada in Ipoh, Malaysia, the young India hockey team thrashed their opponents 14–3, ensuring a top‑two finish and a place in the title match.
Drag‑flick specialist Jugraj Singh scored four goals, converting three penalty corners and a penalty stroke. Nilakanta Sharma struck in the 4th minute, and Rajinder Singh followed with a 10th‑minute goal.
Canada’s Brendan Guraliuk pulled one back from a penalty corner, but Jugraj and Amit Rohidas replied in the 12th and 15th minutes. By the end of the first quarter, India led 4‑1, building a cushion as thick as a fortress wall.
Key scoring moments (India vs Canada)
- Early salvo: Nilakanta (4th min), Rajinder (10th min) put India ahead.
- Jugraj’s hat‑trick: Goals in 12th, 26th and 39th minutes, plus a penalty stroke in the 50th.
- Canadian responses: Guraliuk (11th minute), Sarmento (35th minute) and Sidhu (55th minute) found the net.
- Late flourish: Rohidas, Sanjay, and Abhishek closed the rout with goals in the final quarter.
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This victory means India will face an unbeaten Belgium side in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 final. Before this match, India had already beaten South Korea, Malaysia and New Zealand but lost narrowly to Belgium.
If they win the final, it would be India’s sixth title after victories in 1985, 1991, 1995, 2009 and 2010.
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 final: players step up and historical context
This run to the championship match has been remarkable because India travelled with a largely second‑string squad. Veterans rested; younger players seized the spotlight like warriors in an ancient epic.
Jugraj’s drag‑flicks were lightning bolts, while forwards like Abhishek and Dilpreet danced through the Canadian defence. (1) Coach Craig Fulton’s decision to rotate players paid off, giving experience to the next generation and exposing them to the pressure cooker of a major final.
Canada never recovered from India’s relentless pressure. Their goals, by Guraliuk, Sarmento and Sidhu, offered brief respite.
Each time they scored, India responded with more force, showing mental resilience reminiscent of champions. The records of the match indicate how deep India is: eight players scored, with Jagraj, Abhishek, Rohidas and Rajinder taking off with braces or more.
This variety of scoring makes India unpredictable and harmful to enter the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 final. Historically, India’s success in this tournament has been cyclical.
Their last triumph came in 2010, and for fifteen years the cup has eluded them. Reaching the final after thrashing Canada signals the reawakening of a hockey giant. Facing Belgium, which remains unbeaten, adds narrative drama.
Belgium narrowly defeated India 3‑2 in the group stage, so the final offers a chance for revenge. (2)
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India’s outlook for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 final against Belgium
With the title match looming, India must keep their feet on the ground. Belgium represents a formidable challenge; it topped the standings and has not lost a match.
For India, tactical discipline will be critical. They cannot afford defensive lapses like those that allowed Canada three consolation goals.
Penalty corner conversions, Jugraj’s speciality, will be crucial. Equally important will be game management: using the ball intelligently, maintaining structure and controlling emotions in the high‑stakes final.
As the India hockey team prepares, fans around Asia will watch with bated breath, hoping the team writes a new chapter in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 final saga.
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Reference
(1) – Hockey India (Jugraj Singh) 2025
(2) – Hockey Belgium Home Page
