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Hockey Junior World Cup
A profligate India will have to raise their game by leaps and bounds if they want to overcome a mighty Spain in the bronze medal play-off match of the junior men's hockey World Cup here on Saturday. India wasted as many as 12 penalty corners to lose 1-4 against a clinical Germany in the semifinal on Thursday. The Indians would be morally down but come Saturday, they can't afford to be wasteful against Spain, who defeated them 4-1 in the pool stages. On the other hand, Spain too would be hurting from 1-3 loss against France in the semifinal and would be looking to finish their campaign with at least a bronze medal. The Indians too would be eyeing their fourth podium finish in the history of the tournament, having won gold twice (in 2001 Hobart and 2016 Lucknow), and a silver way back in 1997 in Milton Keynes, England. But for that the Uttam Singh-led side needs to do some soul-searching and produce its 'A' game. The tournament turned out to be a mixed bag affair for India as they
India produced a spectacular display of grit and character to advance to the semifinals with a thrilling 4-3 win over the Netherlands in the hockey men's Junior World Cup here on Tuesday. Trailing 0-2 at half-time and 2-3 in the third quarter, India exhibited immense resilience to beat the Dutch in the quarterfinal and set a last four clash against Germany. The Netherlands set the ball rolling early in the first quarter with a penalty corner conversion from Timo Boers (5'). Despite the Indian side playing a solid defence, Pepijn van der Heijden (16') scored for the Netherlands in the second quarter through another penalty corner conversion taking their lead to 2-0 at half-time. India came back strongly in the third quarter with a goal from Aditya Lalage (34') assisted by Araijeet Singh Hundal. Two minutes later Araijeet scored the equaliser for India with a penalty stroke. The India colts kept the pressure on the Dutch but they managed yet another penalty corner that was converted