India’s head coach Graham Reid on Tuesday said defending champions would like to learn from Malaysia and exploit the weaknesses of European giants Belgium in the quarter-finals of the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup. India Will take on Belgium in the rematch of the final of the 2016 edition where the hosts emerged victorious 2-1 to claim their second Junior World Cup title in Lucknow. And Reid, who led the Indian senior team to a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, said the key to success in Wednesday’s Games is playing natural hockey. “You see the DNA comes down to the senior team, and the senior team is No. 1 in the world,” the Australian said of Belgium.
“You also saw some vulnerability that the Malaysians exploited and we will do the same. The team that can come out and play its natural game is the winner.”
Malaysia put on a decent defensive performance to beat Belgium 1–1 in the pool stages of the tournament.
But Reid warned his boys to avoid complacency if they wanted to clinch a third Junior World Cup title and finish second in a row.
“I really don’t think it should be a problem, as far as easing these guys. Add to that the fact that we played them in the final. They (Belgium) have a history of being really good… in the past. Belgium has been performing at that level for 10 years.
“Hopefully, our people can keep going. The real test comes tomorrow,” he said.
In a major setback for India, striker Maninder Singh has been ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury and has been replaced by Bobby Singh.
Maninder has been one of the leading performers for India in the tournament so far, setting goals for the forwardline.
“Unfortunately, we were forced to make this decision today. Bobby Singh has been taken in place of Maninder. It’s always disappointing when someone’s dream is shattered like this… Unfortunately, that’s what elite sport is all about,” Reid said.
Asked how difficult it is to coach the India Colts as compared to the senior players, Reid said: “Again, this is one of the hard parts when you are coaching someone who is a little bit younger.
“Patience does not come naturally in young boys. Kids of that age want things to happen. Trying to be patient, rolling the ball around and being disciplined is something we try to instill in them… but it’s a fine line, between disrupting the flow.
“When you watch Belgium play, you see that patience because it’s inherent in them growing up.”
Reid said that with three quality drag-flickers in the form of vice-captain Sanjay Kumar, Arijit Singh Hundal and Shardanand Tiwary, the Indian team is in safe hands.
“What’s becoming major is that we’re having really quality drag-flickers coming out, which is a good thing.”
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