Lucknow: India created history by winning the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup after a gap of 15 long years with a clinical 2-1 victory against Belgium in the final, here Sunday.
The hosts scored two beautifully crafted field goals in the first half through Gurjant Singh (eighth) and Simranjeet Singh (22nd) while controlling the proceedings for better part of the game to emerge as deserving winners.
It turned out to be a historic day for India as they reclaimed the title for the second time in the history of the tournament. India had last won the tournament way back in 2001 in Hobart.It was also the first time that a host nation had won the tournament since its inception.
Belgium scored a late consolation goal through Fabrice van Bockrijck’s penalty corner conversion in the 70th minute. With the title in sight, the Indians went on the offensive from the word go and put the Belgian defense under tremendous pressure with continuous raids.
It didn’t take India too long to surge ahead as they drew the first blood in the eighth minute through Gurjant’s fantastic field strike. The Indians kept up the pressure and doubled their lead in the 22nd minute through Simranjeet’s reverse shot from top of the circle after he was fed by a measured pass from Nilkanta.
Stunned by India’s aggression with a partisan crowd to contend with, Belgium went for goals and in the process secured their first penalty corner in the 30th minute but the opportunity went wasted as the hosts went into breather with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
India continued in the same vein after the change of ends and secured their third penalty corner in the 48th minute but skipper Harjeet Singh failed to stop the injection but recovered enough to take a shot which was saved by Belgium goalkeeper van Doren.
With nothing to lose, Belgium gave their all in the final few minutes and managed to secure two consecutive penalty corners just 20 seconds from the final hooter, the second of which was converted by Van Bockrijck to give something to cheer about for the Red Cougars.
Earlier in the day, six-time champions and title holders Germany had to contend themselves with the bronze medal after outclassing Australia 3-0 in the third-fourth place play-off match.
PTI