Hockey: India overturn two-goal deficit to beat Argentina 4-2, win Junior World Cup bronze | Hockey News
NEW DELHI: India overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Argentina 4-2 and secure the bronze medal at the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup in Chennai on Wednesday.India, who last won the title in Lucknow in 2016, returned to the podium after missing out in the previous two editions. They finished fourth in Bhubaneswar in 2021 and again missed a medal two years later in Kuala Lumpur.India’s goals came from Ankit Pal (49th minute), Manmeet Singh (52nd), Anmol Ekka (58th), all from penalty corners, and Sharda Nand Tiwari, who converted a penalty stroke in the 57th minute.Argentina had the upper hand for large parts of the match, especially in the first two quarters. They took the lead early through Nicolas Rodriguez in the third minute after earning a penalty stroke following a foul by Anmol Ekka. Rodriguez converted to put Argentina ahead. Santiago Fernandez then doubled the lead in the 44th minute.Argentina dominated possession in the opening quarter as India struggled to settle. India conceded possession frequently in the first 15 minutes, which limited their attacking chances.India created their best chance of the first half in the 20th minute, but Dilraj Singh’s shot from the top of the circle was saved by Argentina goalkeeper Joaquin Ruiz.After the break, India started positively and earned four consecutive penalty corners in the 31st minute. However, they failed to convert, with Ekka flicking the final attempt over the crossbar.Argentina continued to put pressure on the Indian defence and earned their first penalty corner in the 37th minute, but goalkeeper Princedeep Singh produced a double save. Argentina earned two more penalty corners in the 40th minute and another in the 41st, but were unable to score, with Rodriguez’s flick going wide.India stayed in the contest and pushed harder in the final quarter. Ankit Pal pulled one back in the 49th minute by deflecting Ekka’s flick from a penalty corner. Manmeet Singh then scored four minutes later with another deflection from Ekka’s delivery to level the score.India maintained the pressure and took the lead when Tiwari scored from the penalty spot three minutes before the end. Ekka sealed the result a minute later by converting another penalty corner.
