France made the biggest upset by defeating defending champions India 5-4 in a Pool B match on the opening day of the Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here on Wednesday.
The lack of cohesion was evident as the hosts were outplayed by France in every department.
France, who finished a surprise runners-up in New Delhi in 2013, stunned the defending champions by scoring a goal in the opening minute via a field goal from captain Timothy Clement.
India’s blow was doubled when the flamboyant French side went 2-0 up in the seventh minute. The trio of Mathis Clement, Jules Verrier and Benjamin Marque concluded a well-coordinated move showing excellent preparation from France.
India once managed to retreat as Uttam Singh made a comeback from the team’s first penalty corner. Sanjay’s drag-flick equalized before the first break.
The second quarter belonged to France. Clement’s crisp drag-flick from the first long corner puts his side in the lead again.
The Frenchman, who dominated the proceedings, earned three consecutive penalty corners after half-time. Clement completed a hat-trick in the 32nd minute.
France pulled further back in the final quarter via a field goal from Corentin Cellier.
Although Sanjay struck twice in the closing minutes and performed a three-peat, it was not enough to deny France.
Result:
Pool A: Belgium 5 (Roman Duvecott 7 and 45, Nelson Onana 24, Arno van Dessel 55, Rick van Kleinenbrugel 58) bt South Africa 1 (Jacques van Tonder 15+); Malaysia 2 (Kamrulzaman Kamaruddin 34. Sirman Matt 43) bt Chile 1 (Sebastian Wolanski 59).
Pool B: Poland 1 (Erik Bembneck 34) bt Canada 0; France 5 (Timothy Clement 1, 23 and 32, Benjamin Mark 7, Corentin Cellier 48) bt India 4 (Uttam Singh 10, Sanjay 15+, 57 and 58).
Pool D: Germany 5 (Michel Struthoff 1. Robert Duckscher 14 and 54, Maximilian Siegberg 19, Benedict Schwarzhaupt 22) bt Pakistan 2 (Abdul Shahid 18, Mohamed Hammaduddin 49).
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