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The 14th edition of the Men's Hockey World Cup is all set to get underway at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The eagerly awaited tournament will begin on November 28 and run its course till the all important title clash on December 16.
Among the 16 participating teams, traditional heavyweights Australia, Netherlands and Germany are front-runners to lift the coveted World Cup trophy. While there are several experienced stalwarts featuring in action, the presence of young and promising players should add a different charm to the tournament.
In this segment, let us take a look at five young players who can potentially take the next step to become global stars during the 2018 Hockey World Cup.
#5 Muhammad Atiq Arshad - Pakistan
After failing to qualify for the 2014 edition in Netherlands, Pakistan return to the World Cup fold during the 2018 tournament on Indian soil. With dwindling interest from the once-passionate populace and Pakistan Hockey Federation in a financial mess, the four-time World Cup champions are struggling to compete in recent times.
In a far cry from the golden era of Pakistani hockey, the current World Cup squad contains just four players aged below 25 years. At 21, Muhammad Atiq Arshad has already played more than 30 matches for his country.
The young striker rapidly rose through the ranks by virtue of his impressive performances in the U-16 and then U-21 circuit. He was part of Pakistan's silver medal winning team in the 2015 Junior Asia Cup. During the 2018 Asian Games bronze-medal match, Atiq Arshad scored a splendid goal to cause a few jitters in the Indian camp. Team manager Hassan Sardar should bring him into the starting eleven right from the start of their campaign.
#4 Arthur De Sloover - Belgium
Belgium's remarkable recent rise is exemplified by the fact that they enter the 2018 World Cup as the third-ranked team. Undoubtedly, when the tournament begins, the silver-medallists from the 2016 Rio Olympics will be one of the teams to watch out for. They are placed in Pool C alongside hosts India, South Africa and Canada.
A major part of Belgium's threat stems from their strong defence. Considering that the experienced stalwarts such as Loïck Luypaert, Gauthier Boccard and Arthur van Doren are scrutinised extensively by opposition attackers, young Arthur De Sloover's propitious ability makes him an ace in the pack.
Born in Kortrijk, Arthur De Sloover has often been touted as a future Belgian star. After learning his trade at Saint-Georges Hockey Club, he switched allegiance to the iconic Royal Beerschot Tennis & Hockey Club in 2014/15.
During the 2016 Junior Hockey World, De Sloover scored in the penalty shoot-outs during the quarter-final against Argentina and the semi-final against Germany. Aside from possessing the skill-set to outwit the advancing attackers, the talented defender can also set the stage ablaze with his powerful drag-flicks during penalty corners.
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#3 Thijs van Dam - Netherlands
From Marc Delissen to Teun de Nooijer, Netherlands have given plenty of alluring stars to hockey. Their squad for the 2018 World Cup contains numerous world-class players capable of raising their game to meet the demands of the tournament.
Netherlands' bid to add to their collection of three World Cup titles will be resting on the shoulders of Seve van Ass, Jeroen Hertzberger and Sander Baart. However, one must not overlook the presence of young prospects like Thijs van Dam and Jonas de Geus.
Thus far, Thijs van Dam has played 33 matches and scored five goals for his country. He was part of the Netherlands team which finished third in the 2018 Champions Trophy. The promising forward scored in the game against Pakistan at Breda. His impressive match awareness is evident from the ease with which he gets into goal-scoring positions.
It was during the 2017 Hockey World League Final at Bhubaneswar where Thijs van Dam arrived into the limelight. The 21-year old will return to the Kalinga Stadium for what could be a watershed moment in his blossoming career.
#2 Tim Brand - Australia
With 1906 points, Australia are currently the top ranked hockey team in the world. The defending champions are odds-on favourites to clinch their fourth World Cup title. They have a formidable mix of rising stars and experienced stalwarts at their disposal.
Tim Brand is among the most promising prospects to watch out for in the Australian squad. Born in Netherlands, he relocated to Sydney at the age of three along with his Australian mother. Growing up with the dream of playing hockey at the highest level, he made his mark for the New South Wales Waratahs.
The 19-year old forward played his part in Australia's triumphant campaign in the 2018 Champions Trophy. He scored twice in the group stage match against Argentina. Tim Brand, who has played 12 matches and scored four goals for the Kookaburras thus far, will turn 20 on the day before their opening game against Ireland in the 2018 Hockey World Cup.
#1 Hardik Singh - India
Hailing from a family which has produced multiple generations of hockey stalwarts, Hardik Singh is starting to carve a niche for himself. It's a testament to the 20-year old's immense potential that the Indian team management chose to include him in the World Cup squad ahead of much more experienced defenders.
Capable of playing the role of defensive mid-fielder, Hardik Singh is also adept at launching quick counter-attacks by cutting through the middle. After watching several hockey stars from close quarters during his days as ball boy in the 2013 Hockey India League, he honed his skills at the Mohali Hockey Academy.
Hardik was named vice-captain during India's campaign at the 2016 Boys U-18 Asia Cup. However, lack of national opportunities in 2017 made him consider a move to Netherlands for club hockey. Indian hockey legend Jugraj Singh, also Hardik's uncle, implored him to stay back in the country and focus on domestic tournaments.
Hardik's stocks soared after he found a place in India's squad at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy. With coach Harendra Singh favouring youth over experience, it did not come across as any surprise when he found a place in the 18-member contingent for the World Cup.
