The Indian Junior Hockey team will be looking to end their 15-year drought when they kick off their campaign in the Junior Hockey World Cup this Thursday. India will take on minnows Canada in their opening group stage fixture in the 11th FIH Junior Hockey World Cup. India last won the title back in 2001, in Hobart, Australia.
The 16 participating nations have been divided into four pools(A,B,C,D). India has been placed in Pool D alongside Canada, England and South Africa and needs to finish in the top 2 to qualify for the quarter-finals.
India is being regarded as the most experienced and balanced team in the World Cup with most players gaining great exposure from the Hockey India League. German coach Valentin Altenburg has already declared India to be one of the top contenders for the title.
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The junior team had recently won the four-nation invitational tournament in Valencia in October, something which has boosted their morale immensely. Indian junior head coach Harendra Singh would thus be looking for his team to maintain shape and consistency throughout the tournament, regardless of how surprising or unpredictable it is.
Roelant Oltmans, the senior team coach is also assisting Harendra in preparing the colts for the World Cup and is confident of a good show. When asked about his review of the team, the Dutchman said in an interview with TOI, “We have a balanced team and that is our strength. We have more experience than others because of playing in HIL. We have performed well in the last two years and we also have key players in every line."
The tournament, however, has already seen much drama with the final minute withdrawal of Pakistan from the event. Pakistan failed to apply for the visas and the necessary documents within the stipulated deadline. Instead, Malaysia was incorporated as a late entrant to the World Cup.
This is the second time that India is hosting the men's junior World Cup. Delhi hosted the last edition in 2013, where Germany claimed their sixth title beating France 5-2 in the final.
