India 5-3 Pakistan Hockey Final Highlights, Junior Asia Cup: Araijeet Hundal's Fab Four Goals Bring Home Fifth Title

The high-voltage clash is scheduled to begin at 8:30pm IST. It will be live streamed on Oman Hockey Association's YouTube channel. Check full details HERE.

The final was preceded by the third-place playoff between Japan and Malaysia. Japan won the match 2-1, with Tanaka Tsubasa and Fujiwara Yuma scoring in the first quarter for the victorious side. India had beaten Malaysia 3-1 yesterday, while Pakistan had prevailed 4-2 over Japan to set up the mouthwatering finale.

Here is India's starting XI for the all-important finale:

We are minutes away from the start. Both sets of players are out on the pitch, with four kids each holding aloft the flags, and the national anthems are now underway. Pakistan first, then India.

We are now in action. Pakistan have the pushback and play begins in the first quarter, with India trying to dominate possession in the initial exchanges. An early goal could be invaluable for either side in such a high stakes, pressure-cooker clash.

What a thrilling start! Shahid Hannan scores a field goal early to seemingly rattle India in the first quarter. But the defending champions strike back in seconds, as Araijeet Singh Hundal converts his team's first penalty corner to level things up. Pulsating action in a final that is already living up to its billing.

The on-air commentators can't stop gushing about the quality of stickwork and talent on display. Both sides seemed to have settled into their defensive and midfield rhythms a bit after the two early goals. Less than minutes remain in the first quarter.

India crowd the Pakistan D with numbers, but nothing comes of the move in the dying seconds of the first quarter. And that's it, the first 15 minutes are done and dusted. Onto the next in two minutes' time.

The second quarter is underway. India trying to cautiously forge their way ahead, but soon get dispossessed. Pakistan are clearly not daunted by the occasion so far, and are attacking and defending with alacrity. But just as we say this, India garner another PC, and Araijeet Singh Hundal strikes again! India in the lead.

This is a fantastic spell of hockey for the India colts. They double their lead with a field goal, this time from the stick of Dilraj Singh, who is alert enough to pounce on an opportune ball in the Pakistan circle. The reigning champions now well and truly on top.

Pakistan trying to wrest initiative back in the midfield, but India are intervening at timely moments to stay out of harm's way. Aerial balls becoming more frequent but smart player marking is averting attacks through the 3-D route. We are now into the last minute of the first half. Can Pakistan cut the deficit before heading into the break?

Pakistan earn a penalty corner with 10 seconds left on the clock in the second quarter. Ali Basharat with the injection, and Sufyan Khan converts with the drag flick! Pakistan right back in it via a short corner. This is shaping up to be a proper humdinger. Stay tuned for the second half.

The third quarter has begun, and the frantic pace of play resumes. India generate another penalty corner, and Araijeet Singh comes up with one more stinging drag flick which is just about kept out by the Pakistan goalie.

Soon after the foiled attempt at goal, Hundal makes another one. He intercepts an aerial ball and charges into the Pakistan D. With no defender around, Araijeet has enough room to take a shot but custodian Janjua Muhammad does brilliantly to save it and also drive the ball out of danger.

Pakistan equalize! The short corner again works to the challengers' advantage as Sufyan Khan drills it into the bottom right corner of the Indian goal. This match keeps getting better and better.

The third quarter draws to a frenetic close. The final 15 minutes remain. Remember, if the match ends in a draw, we will head to penalty shootouts.

India score! It's that man Hundal again. The unmarked India talisman makes the most of Pakistan's defensive lapse and sends the ball in to complete a well-deserved hat-trick. What an occasion to do that for your team. Take a bow, young man.

Another PC, another goal for India! Araijeet Singh Hundal with his, wait for it, fourth goal that single-handedly puts the defending champions on the verge of a third straight title. India came up with a variation this time at the top of the circle, and it worked well, as a diving Hundal sent the ball soaring into the Pakistan net. India two goals to the good and a little over three minutes to go.

The final hooter rings out, and India win! Pakistan's last-ditch efforts come to nought as India hold on to their two-goal advantage in the dying minutes. And with that, the Junior Asia Cup title is theirs for the third edition running, after the 2015 and 2023 triumphs. It is India's fifth overall title, the most for any team in the continental showpiece.

Jubilation engulfs the Indian fans at the stadium as well as the team, which takes a victory lap around the Al Amerat arena to thank the faithfuls who turned up to support them. It was a remarkable performance from the talented young outfit, which shrugged off Pakistan's early goal with a strike of its own seconds later, and kept converting PCs at crucial junctures to stay ahead. Almost all credit for that goes to Hundal, who produced a mesmerising display at the grand stage to be remembered in posterity.

While the junior men's team has done the nation proud in Muscat, their female counterparts will have the chance to do the same in a few days. The Women's Junior Asia Cup kicks off at the same venue from December 7, with India being the defending champions there as well.