India's penalty corner struggles persisted as they were unable to convert any of their 12 shots, resulting in a 1-4 defeat to a clinical Germany in the semifinal of the junior men's Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur on December 14.
In contrast, six-time champions Germany only earned two penalty corners throughout the match but managed to score on both occasions.
The Indian team faces a significant need for introspection, considering the inability to score from a dozen penalty corners in such a crucial stage of the tournament.
Despite a remarkable display of grit and character in their quarterfinal victory over the fourth-ranked Netherlands on December 5, where they won 4-3, India faced disappointment with penalty corner conversion issues on December 14.
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Germany's Ben Hasbach scored twice, in the eighth minute with a field goal and in the 30th minute with a penalty corner, giving Germany a 2-1 lead at half-time. India's Sudeep Chirmako scored the lone goal in the 11th minute with a field effort.
Germany further solidified their lead with a clinical penalty corner conversion by Glander Paul in the 41st minute, and Florian Sperling's 58th-minute field strike sealed the victory.
Last edition runners-up Germany will compete against France in the summit clash.
India will play for the bronze medal against Spain on December 16.
The first quarter saw a closely contested match, with Chirmako nullifying Hasbach's goal.
Following a lapse in the midfield, Hasbach seized control of the ball and scored from the rebound, putting Germany in the lead.
Chirmako brought India level with an impressive shot, capitalising on a moment when the German goalkeeper came forward to narrow the angle. Chirmako successfully slotted the ball home from the edge of the circle. However, that goal stood as the only positive moment for the Indian team.
India missed a crucial opportunity to gain an advantage by failing to convert any of the four penalty corners (PCs) they earned. Unfortunately, the trend continued in the second quarter, where the Uttam Singh-led side squandered all six PCs in quick succession. The consequence was evident as Germany capitalised on a PC taken by Hasbach.
In the third quarter, Paul extended Germany's lead to 3-1 with another successful penalty corner conversion. Sperling then sealed the victory two minutes from the final hooter with a goal from a rebound.
The Indian junior men's team has now faced defeat against Germany in all five encounters this year. This includes a loss to the same opponents (2-4) in the semifinals of the 2021 edition in Bhubaneswar.
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