Published By: Ritayan Basu
Last Updated: December 02, 2023, 13:39 IST
Indian males’s junior hockey group (HI)
India are positioned in Pool C alongside Spain, Korea and Canada on the males’s Junior World Cup.
Indian junior hockey group’s current success in continental occasions will play a morale-boosting position when it begins its marketing campaign in the boys’s Junior World Cup, starting in Kuala Lumpur on December 5, asserted vice-captain Araijeet Singh Hundal right here on Saturday.
The Indian group left for the Junior World Cup on Saturday and can play its opening recreation in opposition to Korea on December 5.
“The team has grown significantly since the last World Cup (in Bhubaneswar). We won the Sultan of Johor Cup 2022 and the Junior Asia Cup and recently finished third in the Sultan of Johor Cup as well,” stated Hundal in a Hockey India launch on Saturday.
“So, we know that we are capable of winning the Junior World Cup, it’s just a matter of performing to the best of our abilities when the time comes.”
India are positioned in Pool C alongside Spain, Korea and Canada, whereas defending champions Argentina are in Pool A together with Chile, Australia and hosts Malaysia.
Germany, France, South Africa and Egypt are slotted in Pool B, whereas the Netherlands, New Zealand, Belgium and Pakistan will battle it out in Pool D.
India had completed fourth in the earlier version of the event held in Bhubaneswar in 2021, dropping to France in the third/4th place match.
After their recreation in opposition to Korea, India, the 2016 champions, will play Spain on December 7, whereas their final pool recreation will likely be in opposition to Canada on December 9.
India want to complete in the highest two in Pool C to safe their entry in the quarterfinals.
Captain Uttam Singh stated his group wished to erase the frustration of returning and not using a medal in the 2021 version of the Junior World Cup.
“The last time around we had to face the bitter disappointment of losing the 3rd/4th place match to France but the team has bounced back and the bond amongst the team is stronger than ever.
“As always, the team will take it match by match, we will look to give our best on the pitch and hopefully bring a medal back to India,” stated Singh.
The group confronted an sudden change in the 18-member squad with Shardanand Tiwari being dominated out because of sickness. He has been changed by Sukhvinder.
With Sukhvinder’s entry into the squad, Yogember Rawat has been added because the alternative athlete for the occasion.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)
