E-Paper
India placed in Pool D in junior hockey World Cup
India have been placed alongside the Netherlands, New Zealand Singapore and Poland in the junior hockey World Cup from June 7-21.
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 AK Bansal said he was satisfied with the Grouping released on 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
