(Hockey News) India’s Uttam Singh’s unexpected goal from a penalty corner variation, the captain of the Indian junior team remains unable to conceal his delight, despite the passing of almost 48 hours. Delving into the details of his pivotal goal in the Junior World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands, Uttam underscored the intensive practice that played a crucial role in refining such strategic plays.
“We had diligently practiced them,” Uttam explained. “With just two minutes remaining in the match, it was the perfect moment to deploy it. The coach signaled us to go for it, and we executed it precisely as per our training.”
Uttam highlights the critical role of execution, a sentiment echoed by coach CR Kumar, who sat alongside him on the eve of the semifinal against Germany, nodding in agreement. Both Uttam and Kion rate.
The persistent issue of creating numerous scoring opportunities but lacking composure in the final third has long plagued Indian hockey, extending to the senior team as well. As they brace themselves for a highly anticipated rematch against Germany in the 2021 Junior World Cup semifinal, a match that ended in victory for the European side, India places its hopes on the performance of their strikers.
In recent years, German hockey has experienced notable success, reaching the Junior World Cup final two years ago and securing the senior title earlier this year. The historical encounters between India and Germany have favored the latter, with Germany holding an advantage, including a victory in their most recent meeting at the Sultan of Johor Cup. While the memory of that defeat may linger in the minds of the young players, coach Kumar aims to downplay its significance.
“Most of our strikers who are here did not participate in that tournament. We intentionally rested them, focusing on their training in Bangalore,” clarified Kumar. “We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of all the teams in the World Cup, including Germany. The insights gained from our previous matches against them will position us well for the upcoming game. The players understand that Germany is not unbeatable; success lies in executing the plan.”
Uttam, along with four teammates in Kuala Lumpur, embarks on his second Junior World Cup journey. Thursday’s semifinal presents a golden opportunity for the quintet to redeem themselves after falling short two years ago. Sharing his thoughts on the upcoming match, Uttam expressed, “In the 2021 JWC, I was merely a player, not the captain, and we faced defeat in the semifinals.
However, the dream of playing and winning the final always lingers. Now that we have another chance, weumar attribute the key difference between the victory over the Netherlands on Tuesday and the earlier group stage loss to Spain (who will face France in the other semifinal) to the convers are determined not to squander this opportunity. Many partake in a World Cup, but only a few emerge as champions. We already have our names as World Cup participants; now it’s time to inscribe our names among World Cup champions.”
Also Read: Mighty Germany stand in India’s way in junior hockey WC semis
