Germans aim for a hat trick of wins
LUCKNOW: Germans have won the title six times and they are keen to wrest it again. This would be their first hat-trick of victories if they win the Junior Men’s World Cup Hockey, starting Thursday here. Germany are grouped in Pool C with Japan, New Zealand and Spain.
Soon after landing in the state capital on Sunday evening, head coach of Germany Valentin Altenburg said the team was eyeing a hat-trick of victories. World Cup happens once in four years and for many players it is a onetime opportunity to win it. It is not very difficult to motivate the team to do it again and this time they are chasing a hat-trick,” added Altenburg, who also happened to be the head coach of senior German side, which won the bronze medal at Rio Olympics.
Before winning the event for the sixth time in 2013, the championship’s most decorated team Germany had the cup in 2009, and they would be starting as favourites at the mega event.
This would also be the opportunity for all youngsters to stake their claims for a berth in the senior side at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Altenburg (34), who has been closely working with this junior team for three-and-ahalf years, believes this World Cup will be a stepping stone to spotting players who will go on to play for the senior squad.
“We already have a couple of under-21 players who have played for the senior team and Timm Herzbruch played at the Olympics too. We see this as an opportunity to be on top of the world in hockey. Junior World Cup is the stage where you can see who can be your future,” he said. He pointed out that India would be a team to beat in this World Cup. Germany had lost to India in the finals of the Four Nations Tournament held in Valencia (Spain) in October this year. “India is going to be a big favourite this World Cup. I know they have been working hard for more than two years. Harendra (India coach) is doing a great job with the team spirit they have,” he said.
“All the players are individually strong and almost everyone has played the Hockey India League which helps them a lot to understand the highest level of hockey. They have played with or against some of the finest players in the world. I think if any team wants to be World Champions then they have to beat India,” Altenburg said.
FACILITIES ADMIRIED
Meanwhile, the newly elected president of the Federation of International Hockey, Narinder Batra on Sunday lauded the state government as well as the organisers Uttar Pradesh Hockey for making perfect development, especially the international standard infrastructure for the game.
He not only made a quick stopover at the newly constructed Padma Shri Mohammad Shahid Hockey Stadium as well as the main pitch at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium. “Lucknow is known for the legends it has produced in world hockey and I am extremely happy with the preparations,” said Batra, adding, “This is beyond expectations and I would like to thank the government of Uttar Pradesh for their full support. The event will definitely help put Lucknow on the world map.”