India's aspirations of clinching a bronze medal in the junior men's hockey World Cup were dashed on Saturday, as they faced a 1-3 defeat against Spain in the bronze medal playoff. This setback highlighted India's ongoing challenges in penalty corner conversions, a recurring issue that surfaced once again in the crucial match.
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Spain's Nicolas Alvarez emerged as a key player, scoring twice in the 25th and 51st minutes, complemented by Petchame Pau's goal in the 40th minute. For India, Sunil Jojo's 28th-minute penalty corner goal served as a lone highlight. The loss underscored India's vulnerability, previously evidenced in their 1-4 defeat to Spain during the pool stages and their fourth-place finish in the 2021 edition of the tournament in Bhubaneswar.
The Spanish team's victory marked a significant achievement, matching their best performance in the World Cup history, mirroring their bronze win in the 2005 edition in Rotterdam, where they triumphed over India 6-5 on penalties.
Spain dominated the game, with India's goalkeeper Mohith Shashikumar making several critical saves to prevent a more significant margin of loss. Shashikumar's standout moment came in the 33rd minute, where he thwarted two close-range attempts from the Spanish forwards, keeping the score tied at 1-1.
Alvarez's first goal for Spain came from a skillful left-flank maneuver, culminating in a diagonal shot that deflected off the Indian goalkeeper's gloves. India's response, a penalty corner conversion by Jojo, was a rare success in a game marred by missed opportunities for the Indian team, reminiscent of their semifinal performance against Germany.
The high-pressure tactics of Spain paid off again in the 40th minute with Pau's goal, and Alvarez sealed the win with his second goal, exploiting India's disjointed defence.
As the match progressed, India's desperation led to several collisions and injuries, with Petchame limping off and Pere Amat also requiring medical attention. These incidents reflected the intensity and high stakes of the game.
India's journey in the junior men's hockey World Cup has seen its highs and lows, with their last podium finish being a gold medal in the 2016 Lucknow edition. The team's first major success came in 2001 in Hobart, followed by a runner-up finish in Milton Keynes, England in 1997. Germany, the 2021 runner-up, are set to face France in the tournament's summit clash, promising another exciting encounter in this prestigious hockey event.
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