Drag-flix and chill: India thrash Canada 13-1 in Junior World Cup

One allows the ball to fly into the net. The other generates so much pace that the ball zooms past the goalkeeper in mid-flight. And the third lets it kiss the surface and thud into the board.

Three set-piece specialists, three different styles, same result.

If the Junior World Cup is a glimpse into the future, then India’s penalty corner routines seem to be in safe hands going forward. In Araijeet Singh Hundal, Sanjay Kumar and Sharda Nand Tiwari, the junior team has three cracking penalty corner takers, with Abhishek Lakra being the fourth option.

Seven out of the 13 goals India scored against a hapless Canada in the second group game came from corners. The facile 13-1 win brought the defending champions’ campaign back on track after losing to France on Wednesday. But it was the performance of the penalty corner experts that stood out.

Chief coach Graham Reid would have been taking notes, given that the retirements of Rupinder Pal Singh and Birendra Lakra have opened up two positions in the senior team.