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The expectations of the Indian crowd were that the Indian junior hockey team would reach at least the quarterfinals. But the team failed to do so. The first match against the Netherlands as they lost 3-2, won against the lower rank Candada 3-2 and they had to win their last match against the South Koreans but they drew the match after they were leading 3-1 with 12 minutes to go.
The Indians had to pay as the Koreans scored twice to shatter the dreams of the team. I think they played well overall in the tournament but few mistakes did haunt them. Gurjnder Singh was very good with the penalty corners scoring 6 goals in 5 matches.
The classification match against the Argentina was very good as they dominated the whole match from the start and won the match 4-2. In today’s encounter against the Pakistan’s they scored first and then with minutes to go Gurjinder scored from penalty corner and leveled the score. In the penalty stroke Pakistan scored 4 and India scored 2.
The Indian team did well to finish in the top 10 but if Indian team needs to improve on their weakness so come the senior world cup in 2014 and see to that the team get the backing of the government and focus on playing next coming tournaments like Asian games should be next step.
Players Malak Singh, Mandeep Singh, Ramandeep singh who is part of the senior team should focus on building stamina. This world cup experience would help them in future. The coaches role is crucial as they would set a road map for the 2014 world cup as they would to face tough teams in that competition. It would take few more time for Indian hockey to get back it status it was but overall this junior hockey world cup is an idea that India have talented players but they have to nurtured more.Other team like Germany, Malaysia, Holland and the surprising package France have done well to reach the finals.
In the Asian teams India, Korea and Malaysia are good enough to surprise any day. So let hope that these youngsters can do India proud.
