KUALA LUMPUR – The FIH Men’s Junior World Cup was a roller-coaster ride, with fans witnessing 16 teams outmuscling each other on the Bukit Jalil turf, aiming to clinch the biggest junior hockey title in the world.
Malaysia hosted the tournament for the fourth time in its history, following Kuala Lumpur (1982), Ipoh (1989), and Johor Bahru (2009).
The Young Tigers, who entered the tournament with hopes of finishing as a quarter-finalist, ended their campaign in the 12th position after only two wins out of six games, marking their worst finish as the host of the tournament since the 2009 edition, where they also finished in the same position.
Despite having a series of European matches and playing in the Sultan of Johor Cup before the World Cup, the Young Tigers were no match against hockey powerhouses and had one of the lowest penalty corner conversion rates in the tournament, with only five goals out of 25 attempts.
Among the four Asian teams that competed in the World Cup, frenemies India and Pakistan stood out in the tournament not only for their gameplay but notably for their high conversion rate from their penalty corners. Both nations have a record of a conversion rate of 50% from their penalty corners.
India’s success in the World Cup was propelled by counterattacking gameplay, with Uttam Singh and Rohit Ubayveer showcasing formidable attacking prowess.
The Men in Blue stole the limelight in the quarter-finals, making a comeback to defeat the reigning European champions, the Netherlands, 4-3, securing a spot in the semi-finals, and repeating their fourth-place finish from the 2021 edition in Bhubaneswar.
Despite arriving late for the tournament due to additional training sessions in Lahore, Pakistan instilled fear in their opponents by stamping their dominance in the tournament when they faced off against top European hockey nations in their group matches.
With head coach Roelant Oltmans’ experience at the Bukit Jalil turf, the Flying Green Horses had an impressive eighth-place finish, their best in the tournament in two decades.
Astonishment rippled through the Americas, witnessing the 2021 champions Argentina, who had issues with their missing hockey sticks before the tournament, stumble to a seventh-place finish, one of their worst in tournament history.
Meanwhile, Chile, with an average age of 16, became a formidable opponent on the receiving end, conceding a staggering 30 goals, second only to Canada with 38.
In the realm of goals, European teams reigned supreme, scoring a staggering 108 goals and boasting three teams in the final four.
Spain, also known as The Red Sticks, showed glimpses of tika taka with their gameplay, proving that it can not only be done with football but also with their hockey sticks, helping them emerge as the highest-scoring team in the tournament with 27 goals, securing a third-place finish.
Together with Spain, France had also been a surprising package in the tournament, as their tactic of scoring early in the first and second quarters of their games brought them to a second-place finish, with main players such as Mathis Clément, Noé Jouin, Gaspard Xavier, and Brieuc Delemazure gaining good exposure ahead of next year’s Paris Olympics.
However, among the five European teams that took part in the tournament, Germany stood out with their entertaining display of hockey, attacking from the backline, and showcasing their flair with long-yard flicks.
It was a great year for the junior Honomas as they repeated the success of their senior team, who recently won the FIH Men’s World Cup in January.
Germany, which also holds the record for the team receiving the highest number of green cards (5) and yellow cards (8) in the tournament, won their seventh junior title in their history by staging a comeback to defeat France 2-1 in an intense match in front of 1,500 fans.
Germany has now solidified its status as the record holder of the tournament, marking the end of an extraordinary FIH Men’s Junior World Cup featuring numerous wonder kids making their mark.
The 13th edition of the tournament witnessed a total of 270 goals scored, averaging 5.63 goals per match.
The next tournament will be held in 2025, with the location yet to be announced. – December 21, 2023