New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) India have been placed alongside the Netherlands, New Zealand Singapore and Poland in the junior hockey World Cup from June 7-21.
India are in Pool D of the 20-team competition which will be jointly hosted by Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Junior world champions Argentina have been placed in Pool A while runners-up Australia are in Pool B, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) statement said.
The Indian team finished fourth in the previous edition in 2005, but are hopeful of a better finish this time.
The team led by drag-flicker Diwakar Ram has been performing consistently over the last couple of months.
They beat Argentina and Netherlands in an away series before finishing runner-up to Australia in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival last week.
Coach A.K.Bansal said he was satisfied with the Grouping released Monday.
‘Every group has got two good teams. Though the Netherlands finished seventh in the previous edition but they are a ery good side. New Zealand, too, are a strong team,’ Bansal told IANS.
‘We have been performing well in recent months and are hopeful of putting a good show in the tournament,’ he said.
Groups:
Pool A– Argentina, Belgium, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia
Pool B — Australia, Chile, Germany, Japan, South Africa
Pool C — England, Korea, Malaysia, Spain, USA
Pool D — India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore
1 Comment
Bansal ji, we know you are a good coach, always striking top results. but world cup is a very big tournament . for getting results there u have to take senior players like Gurbaj, shreejesh etc, otherwise its defficult, dont be so IMMANDAAR, result ke liye thori si be-imaani to karni hi paregi.all the best