Indian junior hockey team's not-so-good show in the recently concluded hockey Junior World Cup has made Indian Olympic Association's president Narinder Batra unhappy. Indian team lost to Germany in the semifinals and later on in bronze medal clash against France. Meanwhile, senior men's team followed it up and had to settle for a bronze against Pakistan in Asian Champions Trophy after getting ousted by Japan in the semifinal.
IOA president on Sunday (December 26) expressed his views and said, “Not Happy at all with the performance of Indian Junior Men Hockey Team in Junior World Cup and Indian Senior Men Hockey Team in Asian Champions Trophy.”
“Hockey India needs to take it very seriously, non seriousness at all levels needs to make way for seriousness and commitment,” he added.
Earlier this week, the three-time champions India were stunned 3-5 by Japan in the second semifinal of Men's Asian Champions Trophy on December 21 which brough their campaign in the tournament to a screeching halt.
However, later the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist defeated Pakistan 4-3 in a pulsating contest to clinch the bronze medal.
India had topped the group stages with 3 victories in 4 matches, including a 6-0 hammering of Japan, but they lost the decisive knockout match to Japan, who troubled Manpreet Singh's men with raw pace.
India, who were the defending champions along with Pakistan in the last edition of the tournament in Muscat, will return with a consolation prize after having lost to Japan 3-5 in the semifinals.
South Korea emerged as the champions after beating Japan 4-2 in shootout following a 3-3 stalemate at the end of the regulation 60 minutes of the title clash.
Meanwhile, in the Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2021, India lost to France 1-3 in the bronze medal match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on December 5. France captain Timothee Clement scored a hat-trick while birthday boy Sudeep Chirmako scored India’s only goal of the match.
