India rout Bangladesh: Asia
under-20 football

India won their opening Group B match in the Asia under-20 football championship, routing Bangladesh 6-0, in Qatar on Wednesday.

Sutang Marlanki (13th and 47th minutes), Syed Rahim Nabi (25th and 41st minutes), Shylo Malswam Tulunga (70th) and Kumam Samson Hanz Singh (85th) accounted for the goals.

The Indians were distinctly better than their neighbours in all departments of the game and the big victory should serve as a boost for their other two Group B matches against Japan, on October 19, and Saudi Arabia, on October 22.

Joint-champions with Iran in 1974, India were helped in a small way by the expulsion of Sowkat Khan, who picked up two bookings in the match.

Shylo Malsawm Tulunga was the playmaker for India and he helped set up the first two goals for Marlanki and Nabi in the 13th and 25th minutes respectively. Nabi scored the third goal in the 41st minute, with Sutang getting his second goal in the 47th minute to make the score 4-0.

Tulunga capped a fine show by finding the net in the 70th minute before Samson Singh completed the rout in the 85th minute.

The top four teams from the tournament will compete in the FIFA World Under-20 Championship in the United Arab Emirates in 2003.

The UAE as hosts' are automatic qualifiers.