Japan, Chile, Spain and Austria landed in India on Monday and Tuesday as teams continued to gather ahead of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, which runs from November 28 to December 10 in Tamil Nadu.
Japan, drawn in Pool C with Argentina, China and New Zealand, arrived in Chennai late on Monday. “We prepared by playing the senior Japan team and believe we are in good shape,” head coach Yoshihiro Anai said, adding that the opening match against Argentina would be their toughest group game.
Chile, who finished 15th in the 2023 edition, reached Chennai soon after and are placed in Pool B with hosts India, Oman and Switzerland. They open their campaign on Nov. 28 against India.
Spain and Austria arrived in Madurai as they finalise preparations. Spain, Bronze medallists in 2005 and 2023, are grouped with Belgium, Egypt and Namibia and begin against Egypt on Nov. 28. “We have a strong team capable of performing at a high level,” coach Oriol Puig Torras said.
Austria, competing only in their second Junior World Cup after debuting in 2016, are in Pool E with England, Malaysia and the Netherlands and face Malaysia on November 29. Coach Robin Rosch said the team would play Germany in a training game as part of their final build-up.
(IANS)