Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup: Challenging yet elating experience for players

Bhubaneswar, Nov 15: With less than two weeks to go, the 18 members of the Indian Junior team has been announced with Vivek Prasad Sagar as Captain. Coach Graham Reid who led the senior team to win their Olympic bronze at Tokyo recently is overseeing the team’s training at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. The stakes are high and the teams are striving hard to defend their champion’s title. Most of the teams will begin to arrive this week. Soon, Kalinga Stadium will witness 16 hockey teams, some of the finest in the world, battle it out for the coveted Junior World Cup trophy. Given Odisha’s experience and expertise in hosting the Hockey World Cup in 2018 & subsequent international hockey events and its world class infrastructure and allied facilities in place, Odisha was chosen as a preferred venue to host the 12th edition of the Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup from 24 November 2021- 5 December 2021 at Kalinga Stadium. Odisha Sports Minister, Tusharkanti Behera shares, “Not just the infrastructure, the processes for a successful conduct of an event are also in place, in the state. So, be it in few years or few months, Odisha Government departments and agencies have proven to come together and work seamlessly amongst themselves and with Federations to host a smooth event and in a timely manner. Asian Athletics Championship of 2017 was exemplary where the state turned around a challenge into an opportunity within 90 days. We had 60 days to host the Hockey Junior World Cup and Odisha is ready to play the perfect host, yet again.” The teams will start reaching Bhubaneswar this week and Odisha State Government and Hockey India officials are working together on every aspect of the tournament to ensure the event is conducted in a complete safe and secure environment, he added.  The last Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in 2016 and Team India emerged Champions defeating the mighty Belgium in the finals. After close to five years, the event will be held once again and there is an excitement and anticipation.  Each team has faced hurdles to train and accomplish its position for the World Cup during this challenging pandemic time. Each would be looking anxiously to play on this coveted turf which is going to be closed for spectators. Sports Minister shares, “There is indeed disappointment amongst players and hockey lovers as this World Cup will be closed to spectators. We will miss the roars and the cheers and the packed arenas, yet, for the players, it will be a challenging yet elating experience to play in the World Cup. They have dreamt of this moment their entire life and trained for years too. It is a lifetime opportunity so once on the turf, facing an opponent, giving their very best will take precedence. After all, it is the biggest pinnacle of event for any junior hockey players.”