Bhubaneswar: Before the Indian colts begin their championship defence at the Junior Hockey World Cup against France on Wednesday, they would have already taken motivation and advices from their Olympic bronze medal-winning seniors.
Since the junior squad got the opportunity to stay, train and play matches against senior side ahead of the event has been a blessing for the juniors. Ace players from the Olympic squad with other seniors players had arrived in the city for the preparations ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy.
Apart from experienced players such as Manpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh, India’s Chief Coach, Graham Reid, has been working tirelessly with the Indian junior team, which is led by veteran BJ Kariappa.
The junior team would like to cap off a great 2021 season by winning the World Cup for the third time. The squad won the World Cup for the first time in 2001 in Australia before recovering the title in the last edition of the tournament in Lucknow in 2016.
India are placed in Pool B in the 16-team competition along side France, Canada and Poland and are overwhelming favourites to top the pool.
Pool A consists of European heavyweights Belgium, Malaysia, Chile and South Africa, while Netherlands, Spain, Korea and USA are in in Pool C.
Pool D will see Germany, Pakistan, Egypt and Argentina face off against each other.
The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the quarterfinals.
India, along with Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, are among the tournament favourites, especially now that Australia and England have withdrawn owing to COVID-related difficulties.
The tournament has typically been dominated by five countries, with Germany leading the way with six titles, followed by India (twice).
Argentina, Australia, and Pakistan are the only countries to have won the event more than once.
