Kuala Lumpur, December 4, 2023 : The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team is all set to kick off their campaign in the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Malaysia 2023 with an opening match against Korea in Pool C. The team, led by Captain Uttam Singh, enters the tournament with confidence, backed by a favorable head-to-head record against Korea. Out of the six matches played between the two teams, India has secured three victories, while Korea has managed two wins, and one match ended in a draw.
The most recent encounter between the two teams took place during the Semi-Final of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup earlier this year, where India dominated with a resounding 9-1 victory over Korea. Captain Uttam Singh expressed optimism about the team’s readiness, stating, “The wait is finally over for the World Cup, and we are very much confident of a good start.”
Coach C R Kumar emphasized the importance of respecting every opponent and not underestimating Korea. “Korea is a quality side, and you can’t take them lightly. We have to respect every opponent, and it is a bigger stage, so we will have to be cautious and back our strengths to get a good start in the tournament,” he stated.
The Indian team will face Spain on December 7 and Canada on December 9 in their subsequent Pool C matches. A top-two finish in the Pool stage ensures a place in the Quarter-Finals. Uttam Singh, who was part of the Indian Team’s fourth-place finish at the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021, emphasized the team’s focus on going match-by-match.
“As always, our focus has been to go match-by-match, and our priority is to get a winning start and then focus on the following matches to proceed to the next stage of the tournament,” said Uttam Singh.
The Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Final of the tournament are scheduled for December 12, 14, and 16, respectively. The matches will be broadcast on Viacom Sports 18 – 3 and Sports 18 – 1 HD, as well as live-streamed on Jio.
The Indian team aims to replicate their domestic success in the international arena, eyeing a triumphant journey in the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Malaysia 2023.
