5 memorable aspects of India’s victorious Junior Hockey World Cup campaign
India made history at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in Lucknow winning the Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup, beating the flavour of the tournament, Belgium, 2-1. India managed to get both its goals in the first half, a spectacular performance against a team whose goalkeeper won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament Award, having managed three clean sheets.
Also read: Twitter reacts as India win the 2016 Junior Hockey World Cup
For the hockey fan, there are many things to adore about this Under-21 team that won the trophy after 15 long years, and kudos to the coach Harendra and the support staff of the senior team, who were there to provide extra assistance. Here are five memorable aspects of the victorious campaign:
#1 Revenge served cold against Australia
India defeated Australia, the hockey superpower in the semi-finals and finally had their revenge. Australia had defeated India in the Final of the 1997 Junior World Cup in England through a narrow margin, 3-2.
What was magnificent was the way the Indian players kept their cool. Australia scored first but India came back to score two goals and take the lead, before Australia equalised towards the end of the match.
However, India were phenomenal in penalties, scoring four out of four even as goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya saved two Australian penalties to help India sail through to the final.