FIH Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup 2023: India to face Canada, Germany, and Belgium in Pool C
The FIH Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup 2023 is set to kick off on November 29 in Santiago, Chile, with 16 teams vying for the coveted trophy. India, which recently won the Junior Asia Cup 2023 in Japan, will face Canada in its first match in Pool C. The Indian team will also play against Germany and Belgium in the group stage.
India’s Journey to the FIH Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup
India qualified for the World Cup by winning the Junior Asia Cup 2023, which was held in Kakamigahara, Japan, from June 2 to June 11. India defeated South Korea 2-1 in a thrilling final to clinch its second Junior Asia Cup title after 2004. India also remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, scoring 25 goals and conceding only four.
India’s captain Preeti, who scored the winning goal in the final, said that the team was thrilled to see the pools for the World Cup unveiled. “It is an exciting moment for our team as we gear up to compete against some of the best junior teams from around the world,” she said.
India’s coach Harvinder Singh said that the team was aware of the areas where it needed to improve and was working on them. “Despite the historic victory in Japan, we know that there are a few aspects where we need to get better, and we have identified those areas and are currently working on them as we prepare for the prestigious Junior Women’s World Cup in Chile,” he said.
India’s opponents in Pool C
Canada
Canada qualified for the World Cup by finishing third in the Junior Pan American Championship 2023, which was held in Bridgetown, Barbados, from April 10 to April 18. Canada defeated Uruguay 4-1 in the bronze medal match to secure its spot in Santiago. Canada also beat Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago in the group stage, but lost to Argentina and United States.
Canada’s coach Ian Rutledge said that he was proud of his team’s performance and was looking forward to playing against India. “We are very happy to have qualified for the World Cup and we are excited to play against India in our first match. They are a very strong team and they have shown their quality by winning the Junior Asia Cup. We know it will be a tough challenge but we are ready for it,” he said.
Germany
Germany qualified for the World Cup by winning the EuroHockey Junior Championship 2022, which was held in Ghent, Belgium, from July 24 to July 30. Germany defeated Belgium 2-1 in a nail-biting final to claim its fourth EuroHockey Junior title. Germany also topped its group with wins over England, France and Belarus.
Germany’s captain Lena Micheel said that she was confident of her team’s chances at the World Cup and was eager to play against India. “We are very confident of our abilities and we have a lot of experience in our team. We have played against India before and we know they are a very fast and skillful team. We are looking forward to playing against them and showing our best hockey,” she said.
Belgium
Belgium qualified for the World Cup by finishing second in the EuroHockey Junior Championship 2022, losing to Germany in the final. Belgium also reached the final by beating Spain, Ireland and Russia in its group.
Belgium’s coach Xavier Reckinger said that he was proud of his team’s achievement and was curious to play against India. “We are very proud of our achievement and we are happy to have qualified for the World Cup. We have not played against India before and we are curious to see how they play. We know they are a very talented team and they have won the Junior Asia Cup. We are ready to face them and give our best,” he said.
What to expect from Pool C of FIH Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup 2023?
Pool C is expected to be a highly competitive group with four strong teams vying for two spots in the quarterfinals. India will have to be at its best to overcome Canada, Germany and Belgium, who have all shown their prowess in their respective continental championships. India will also have to adapt to the conditions and the opponents, as it has not played against any of them in recent times.
However, India has the advantage of having a balanced and confident team, with a mix of experience and youth. India also has a potent attack, led by Preeti, who scored six goals in the Junior Asia Cup, and a solid defense, led by Ishika Chaudhary, who was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament. India also has a strong midfield, with players like Baljeet Kaur, Mariana Kujur and Jiwan Kishori Toppo.
India will hope to emulate its senior team, which made history by reaching the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. India will also aim to improve its best performance at the World Cup, which was a fourth-place finish in 2016. India will also look to create history by winning its first World Cup medal.
The World Cup will be held from November 29 to December 10 at the Field Hockey Sports Centre, National Stadium, Santiago, Chile. The final will take place on December 10 at 7:15 PM IST.
