India placed in tough group

HOBART, OCT. 13. After finishing the first round with an all-win record, India faces difficult battles ahead in the World Cup junior hockey tournament as it takes on Argentina on Sunday.

Placed in a difficult Pool F of the second round alongside world champion Australia and European giant the Netherlands besides Argentina, India will need to win at least two of its three matches to proceed to the semifinals.

The four other teams in the second round, England, Korea, Spain and Germany, have been placed in Pool E.

India coach Rajinder Singh spent the day today at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre watching Argentina beat New Zealand 3-0 to qualify for the second round.

``It's difficult but not impossible,'' Rajinder Singh said of India's chances of qualifying for the semifinals.

India, which won all its matches with convincing margins in the first round, has attracted the attention of coaches of other teams who have been watching its progress very closely.

``The Indians have been playing very well and we are of the opinion that they haven't shown their true form yet. I am very impressed with their overall strength and that is what sets them apart. But every match will be tough and the better team on the day will win,'' Argentine coach Luis Ciancia said.

Rajinder Singh believes his boys will have to pounce upon half- chances and convert them into goals, the way they did in the match against Spain, to remain in contention.

``The match (against Spain) was almost even but we used the opportunities and got the goals,'' he said.

India's best bet lies in an enterprising game in the midfield where Bimal Lakra, Bipin Fernandez and Ignace Tirkey have done very well. If Lakra can move upfront with the ease that he has been showing, the Indian forwards will have the chances to smash in.

Prabhjot Singh, Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur, Inderjit Singh and Arjun Hallapa all have the class and the way they handle themselves in the circle will count for India.

India can also count on its defence where Jugraj Singh, Kanwal Preet Singh and goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan have put up a superb show. Jugraj had an ankle strain but, according to the coach, he should be fit for Sunday's match.

Argentina is no pushover and boast excellent players in skipper Rodrigo Vila, Matias Massot and Marco Ricardi, all of whom are very dangerous in the circle.

Rajinder Singh said penalty corner specialist Jugraj Singh also held the key to India's place in the semifinals. Jugraj, who was kept away from the prying eyes of the opposition cameras while practising, is expected to bring in a few new variations of the penalty corner flick in the second round matches.

Earlier, in the last of first round matches, Germany beat Malaysia 2-1, the Netherlands defeated France 2-0 and South Korea just about managed to squeak through, winning a closely fought encounter against South Africa 4-3.

- PTI

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