With 25,000 people cheering the boys in a stadium that could accommodate just 15,000, the Indian junior hockey team was crowned the world champions, dominating and dismantling Belgium 2-1 in the final of the Junior World Cup here on Sunday.
It was a clinical performance that had both Indian flair upfront and European stubbornness in defence as the host came close to the ‘perfect game’ the team management had hoped for.
Belgium tried to defend like it always does but for once, the Indians, instead of trying to break their structure, simply slid past the defence and created gaps.
This was Indian hockey’s first-ever world-level title in 15 years, the last being its maiden win in the same competition in 2001. It was also the first time that a host has won this title.
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