KUALA LUMPUR – India created a “miracle of Istanbul” moment at the Bukit Jalil turf, staging a dramatic comeback to defeat the Netherlands 4-3 and secure their spot in the semi-finals of the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup.
In a gripping quarter-final encounter, the reigning European champions dominated 100% in the first two quarters.
However, the Asian champions scripted a turnaround in just 16 minutes, shattering the Netherlands’ dreams of winning their inaugural title in 13 attempts.
Head coach C.R. Kumar, expressive throughout the match at the touchline, created one of the seismic moments of the tournament.
He did not shy away from celebrating his team’s victory, running onto the turf and celebrating with his players when they scored the fourth goal with three minutes remaining in the match.
Kumar, hailing from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, said that his second-half pep talk helped his players awaken from their first-half setback and allowed them to emerge victorious against the world number four side.
“This is probably the toughest game we have played in the tournament so far. My players were down after conceding two goals in the first half.
“I told them that we should not slip up against a European side like we did when we hosted the tournament in 2021.
“I had to shout and harshly speak to my boys so that they could know they hadn’t lost the match, and with more effort on the turf, they could end up winning the match.
“I’m really happy that my players took my words professionally and exploited our opponents, who I believe became a bit overconfident after scoring in the first half,” said Kumar in today’s post-match conference.
Kumar also commended the performance of his skipper, Uttam Singh, who rose to the occasion by scoring the winning goal in the match.
The 21-year-old forward, who hails from a small village in Karampur, Uttar Pradesh, now has three goals under his belt in the ongoing tournament.
“As a coach, it’s a privilege for me to have players like Uttam on our team. His father was a lorry driver in Karampur, and Uttam put in so much effort to get to where he is right now.
“In every training session, Uttam trains his penalty corners for at least an hour, and that helped him score a goal in today’s match against a tough side.
“I look at him as a rising star who one day has the potential to become one of the best players in the sport,” said Kumar.
Meanwhile, Netherlands head coach Jesse Mahiue said that he was impressed with his team’s performance despite the defeat.
“We are disappointed for not getting a positive result against an Asian side for the second game in a row in the tournament.
“However, my players showed a good fight throughout the match, and I’m also glad to witness that Asian hockey has improved over the years.
“Teams like India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and South Korea have showcased some great hockey in this tournament, and this is a good sign for the future of this sport,” said Mahiue.
India’s goals were scored by Arjun Aditya (34th), Araijeet Singh (35th), Anand Sourabh (52nd), and Uttam scored in the 57th minute through a penalty corner.
The Netherlands’ goals were scored by Timo Boers (5th), Pepijn Heijden (16th), and Olivier Hortensius in the 44th minute.
The Men in Blue will next meet Germany in the semi-finals on Thursday.
The junior Honomas defeated Argentina 2-1 in the quarter-finals earlier today. – December 12, 2023