The Indian junior men’s hockey team was announced by Hockey India on Tuesday in advance of the much awaited FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Malaysia 2023, which is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from December 5–16.
India is in an intriguing Pool C with Korea, Spain, Canada, and other participants. Their expedition begins on December 5 with a match against Korea. On December 7 and 9, respectively, they will face Spain and Canada.
The other pools of the competition include Australia, Chile, Malaysia, the defending champions, Argentina, and others. South Africa, Egypt, France, and Germany are in Pool B. With Belgium, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Pakistan fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals, Pool D promises to be extremely competitive.
December 12 is the date of the Quarter-Finals; December 14 is the date of the Semi-Finals; and December 16 is the date of the Grand Final.
India finished fourth in the previous tournament and just missed out on the Bronze medal; this time, they plan to go all the way.
Notably, Uttam Singh will serve as captain and Araijeet Singh Hundal as vice captain of the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team.
Among the talented players in the squad are goalkeepers Mohith H S and Ranvijay Singh Yadav. The positions of Amir Ali, Amandeep Lakra, Rohit, Sunil JoJo, and Shardanand Tiwari, the defense, have all been merited. Vishnukant Singh, Poovanna C B, Rajinder Singh, Amandeep, and Aditya Singh provide strength to the midfield.
The forward line showcases the skills and talents of Uttam Singh, Aditya Lalage, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Sudeep Chirmako, and Boby Singh Dhami. Additionally, defender Sukhvinder and midfielder Sunit Lakra have been named as replacement players for this prestigious event.
As per a press release from Hockey India, Indian Men’s Junior Team Coach CR Kumar, said, “As reigning Asian champions, the prospect of showcasing our skills on the global stage fills us with immense excitement. Our track record in previous Junior Men’s tournaments, yielding positive results, has instilled confidence in our abilities to compete at a higher level.””This time, we present a well-rounded, formidable squad, marking a significant shift in our approach towards the Junior World Cup. Moreover, we draw inspiration from the legacy created by the 2016 Junior World Cup-winning team and aspire to meet the expectations it has set. To aid us in this endeavour, we are fortunate to have a bunch of seasoned players, who were part of the last Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar. They will shoulder leadership roles and mentor their teammates. Our ultimate priority is to clinch victory in the Junior World Cup, and we are committed to taking measured steps toward achieving this goal,” he added.
Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Malaysia 2023:
GOALKEEPERS: Mohith H S, Ranvijay Singh Yadav.
DEFENDERS: Shardanand Tiwari, Amandeep Lakra, Rohit, Sunil JoJo, Amir Ali.
MIDFIELDERS: Vishnukant Singh, Poovanna C B, Rajinder Singh, Amandeep, Aditya Singh.
FORWARDS: Uttam Singh (C), Aditya Lalage, Araijeet Singh Hundal (VC), Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Sudeep Chirmako, Boby Singh Dhami.
REPLACEMENT ATHLETES: Sukhvinder, Sunit Lakra..
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