(S.Ravi Seshu)
A day after the star shuttler PV Sindhu let the nation down in the Super Series Finals of badminton in Dubai, Indian junior Hockey team brought cheers by becoming the World Champions on Sunday. They defeated Belgium 2-1 in the finals in Lucknow.
Gurjant Singh (8th minute) and Simranjeet Singh (22nd minute) sealed the fate of the European rivals while ending the drought of a title since 2001. After Germany, India is only the second team to win the Junior Hockey World Cup more than once. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav, enjoyed the golden moments of Indian colts.
With brilliant wins against the strong opponents like Australia and Spain in the tournament, India started the final campaign with a mountain of confidence and dominated Belgium in all departments.
India earned three penalty corners in the second half but failed to convert them into goals. Belgium scored the lone goal in the 78th minute as Fabrice Van Boackaijck converted a penalty corner.
Indian Juniors seem to be inspired by the men in blue, who won the Asian Champions Trophy after putting a decent show at the Rio Olympics. The seniors had finished runners-up at the 2016 Champions Trophy. It seems Indian hockey entered into a golden era once again!
