Junior World Cup Hockey LIVE: India vs France – The much-awaited Junior Hockey World Cup will kick start at Kalinga Stadium in Bhuvneshwar, Odisha on Wednesday. Defending champions India will look to start off their campaign with a victory after 5 years gap. The players are brimming with confidence after senior India Hockey Team won bronze medal at the Olympics. Vivek Sagar Prasad-led India will face France in the opening contest. The hosts’ task has been already cut out as the likes of New Zealand, England and Australia have pulled out due to COVID situation.
Speaking at the press conference, Vivek said that India is ready for the challenge. “I learnt from the big stage how to keep the team together and I’m looking to implement it here also. It’s always team first. Also, it’s important to stay together off the field and that will help us perform better on the field as well,” he told the reporters.
Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021: Full Schedule, Pools, LIVE Streaming, Matches List, India Time All you need to know
India Hockey head coach Graham Reid who is overseeing the preparations will be aiming to add another feather to his cap after Tokyo Olympics’ glory.
The hosts are placed in Group B with Canada, Poland and France.
FIH Junior Hockey World Cup is being played in a bio-bubble with strict COVID-19 protocols
France Junior team had finished runners up in 2013 World Cup and will be equal to the challenge.
“They will play like any European team. They will be good at holding the ball. They will move the ball quickly and attack down the right flank. They also have two good strikers who will pose a good challenge for us,” Reid said while addressing the press conference.
Today’s matches:
As many as 5 fixtures will be played on Wednesday, including India vs France
Current World Cup winners and Olympic champions Belgium will be in action against South Africa
Germany, who have won the tournament record six times will face off dark horses Pakistan
India vs France
Mayalsia vs Chile
Canada vs Poland
Germany vs Pakistan
Belgium vs South Africa
Group A: Belgium, Chile, Malaysia, South Africa
Group B: India, Canada, France, Poland
Group C: South Korea, Netherlands, Spain, USA
Group D: Argentina, Egypt, Germany, Pakistan
Where to watch India vs France LIVE – Junior Hockey World Cup
You can enjoy all the live action on watch.hockey on November 24 at 8 PM IST. Kalinga Stadium in Bhuvaneshwar will host the match.
India’s schedule:
India vs Canada on 25th November
India vs Paland on 27th November
India U-21 Team
- Shardanand Tiwari
- Prashant Chauhan (GK)
- Sanjay (vc)
- Sudeep Chirmako
- Rahul Kumar Rajbhar
- Maninder Singh
- Pawan (GK)
- Vishnukant Singh
- Ankit Pal
- Uttam Singh
- Sunil Jojo
- Manjeet
- Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem
- Vivek Sagar Prasad (c)
- Abhishek Lakra
- Yashdeep Siwach
- Gurmukh Singh
- Araijeet Singh Hundal.
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