Hindustan Times: Junior World Cup Hockey: India suffer second consecutive loss in warm-up games

Hosts India lost their second and final practice game 1-3 to The Netherlands, at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium late on Monday evening. Lapses in defence allowed the visitors to win. Simranjeet Singh scored for India when they were trailing by 0-2.

“It was a good match but we conceded two easy goals in the dying minutes,” Hockey India’s chief coach Roelant Oltmans said after the 60-minute game. “We had more penalty corners (two) but couldn’t convert,” he said. “The second half was good,” he said. India lost their first practice match against Argentina 1-2.

A sudden dip in the daytime temperature in the last two days has cheered most of the foreign teams, including six-time champions Germany, ahead of the men’s Junior World Cup Hockey starting Thursday.

“The weather’s perfect for hockey,” German coach Valentin Altenburg told HT soon after his team’s training session at the Padma Shree Mohd Shahid Hockey Stadium here on Monday. The top European teams play their best hockey in the winter.

“Smog is not too much and even if it is high, we can’ do anything. My boys and I are enjoying this excellent weather,” said Altenburg, who wants his team to win the trophy for the third time in a row.

“In our country, the temperature is much below zero now,” he said.

The visitors find the temperature of 12 degrees Celsius quite comfortable.

They visited a shopping mall, sporting just shorts and t-shirts on Monday evening.

FOR A CHANGE

Spanish coach Roger Pallarols said his side was here to make a mark.

“In 2005, we finished third. We want to improve on that now,” Pallarols said soon after his side reached the state capital early Monday.

“The players are upbeat and eager to go back with a great experience in India,” he said. “Our pool is quite difficult. We play the defending champions Germany, Japan and New Zealand. They are tough teams, but our team is very technical and mentally strong,” he added.

Captain Enrique Gonzalez de Castejon said: “You live to play the junior World Cup just once in your life. You better make it count. It’s great to play hockey in front of big crowds in India and we are eager to begin our first game.”

SPAIN SQUAD

Perez Albert (Gk), Gispert Pol, Torras Ignasi, De Abadal Pablo, Serrahima Marc, Gonzalez De Castejon Enrique (captain), Bordas I Fabregas Manuel, Puente Guillermo, Bolto Marc, Garcia Alcalde Lucas, Garcia Gerard, Piera Grau Llorenç, Salvador Oriol, Perellon Marc, Malgosa Joaquim, Parrilla Pol, Lara Rosell Jan, Carnicer Alberto, Fernandez Lluis, Tarres Fortuny Joan, Rodriguez Ignacio, Rafi Adrian.