New Delhi, 4 December (H.S.): India’s junior hockey team, which dominated Pool B with an impeccable record of 29 goals scored and none conceded, now faces its sternest challenge yet. The quarterfinal clash against a strong Belgian side is scheduled for Friday at Chennai’s Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium.

Under the guidance of coach P.R. Sreejesh, the Indian squad is aware that easy victories against teams like Chile, Oman, and Switzerland are now behind them. A single misstep could shatter their dream of clinching the title on home soil for the first time since 2016.

India’s forward line has been prolific, led by Dilraj Singh (6 goals) and Manmeet Singh (5 goals), while the midfield spearheaded by Roshan Kujur has remained solid. However, coach Sreejesh has cautioned that the team needs to sharpen its ability to convert circle entries into goals or penalty corners, and maintain a tight defense to avoid conceding unnecessary penalty corners.

Penalty corner conversion has remained a concern for India. Though Sharda Nand Tiwari showed improvement with two goals in the previous match, strikers Rohit and Anmol Ekka must enhance their strike rate against Belgium’s formidable defense.Belgium, coming second in Pool D behind Spain, should not be underestimated. They are regarded as one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking teams, having scored 22 goals equally split between field goals and penalty corners during the pool stage.

India’s defense, which has largely been untested, now faces its ultimate test. Goalkeepers Princedeep Singh and Bikramjeet Singh performed admirably in the 5-0 victory over Switzerland, but Belgium’s attack promises far greater threats. Led by captain Rohit, Talem Priyabrata, and Amir Ali, the Indian backline must perform at its best to withstand the Belgian offensive.

Other quarterfinal fixtures include Spain versus New Zealand, France meeting Germany—a rematch of last edition’s final—and the Netherlands facing Argentina.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar