Junior World Cup Hockey: Sanjay registers a hat-trick but India lose 4-5

Junior World Cup Hockey LIVE: France beat India- The much-awaited Junior Hockey World Cup kicked off on Wednesday. Defending champions India lost their opening game against France at Kalinga Stadium in Bhuvneshwar, Odisha. India Vice-captain Sanjay scored a hat-trick as India produced A-game in the opener but fell short of a late equaliser. France clinched the opening contest 5-4 to leave champions stunned and announce their arrival in Junior World Cup Hockey. Follow India vs France LIVE updates on InsideSport

Junior World Cup Hockey LIVE: Sanjay registers a hat-trick but defending champions India loses 4-5 to France in nail-biter

Junior World Cup Hockey LIVE: France beat India- The opening quarter saw a couple of goals from each side but France held the edge by leading 2-4 at Half-time. Uttam Singh opened India’s scoreline after which Sanjay converted it to 2-2 in the 15th minute. France’s Corentin Sellier quickly converted it to 5-2 but late goals from Sanjay towards the end of the quarter reduced the margin to 4-5. Timothee Clement scored three goals while Marque and Sellier registered one goal each.

India will next face-off Canada in their upcoming contest on November 27. The players were brimming with confidence after senior India Hockey Team won bronze medal at the Olympics. India’s task has been already cut out as the likes of New Zealand, England and Australia have pulled out due to the COVID situation.

TEAM NEWS 📰

🇮🇳’s lineup for their first game of FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2021 🏆#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/xiM7KGw0FO

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

Junior World Cup Hockey LIVE: Sanjay registers a hat-trick but India lose 4-5 to France in nail-biter

21:44 PM IST: France beat India

A brilliant effort at the end from the Indian Colts but they go down fighting to France.

We will come back stronger!

🇮🇳 4:5 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/EK8phGeu9S

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

21:41 PM IST: 59′ GOAL! Another penalty corner, another conversion! Sanjay registers a hat-trick as India go all out in the ending minutes to forge a comeback.

59′ GOAL! Another penalty corner, another conversion! 🤩

Sanjay registers a hat-trick as India go all out in the ending minutes to forge a comeback. 🏑

🇮🇳 4:5 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/HrNL4Hdeq9

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

57′ GOAL! India get one back.

Sanjay converts another penalty corner! 🏑

🇮🇳 3:5 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/Zor32odkXr

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

21:30 PM IST: France score their 5th of the match with Corentin Sellier converting a field goal in the 48th minute.

France score their 5⃣th of the match with Corentin Sellier converting a field goal in the 48th minute.

🇮🇳 2:5 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

21:23 PM IST: India 2-4 France

The last quarter starts.

You can do it, Colts!

🇮🇳 2:4 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

21:07 PM IST: France strike once again in the 32nd minute through a Penalty Corner with their skipper Timothee Clement registering another goal to his name.

France strike once again in the 32nd minute through a Penalty Corner with their skipper Timothee Clement registering another goal to his name.

🇮🇳 2:4 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

20:57 PM IST: An exciting half comes to an end with France entering the break with a one-goal cushion. All to fight for in the second period!

An exciting half comes to an end with France entering the break with a one-goal cushion.

All to fight for in the second period!

🇮🇳 2:3 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/NPqt0qBUpF

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

20:45 PM IST: French skipper Timothee Clement strikes once again in the 23rd minute to give his team the lead.

French skipper Timothee Clement strikes once again in the 23rd minute to give his team the lead.

🇮🇳 2:3 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

20:34 PM IST: Quite a high-scoring first 15 minutes. Uttam Singh and Sanjay with the goals for India

Awaiting more goals from our Rising Stars in this quarter!

15′ GOAL! And we are BACK in it! 🤩

Penalty Corner awarded to India and Sanjay makes no mistake as he converts it efficiently. 🏑

🇮🇳 2:2 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/EXnfIyXOOF

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

10′ GOAL! You can’t keep India out of the game for long! 🤩

Uttam Singh halves the deficit with a brilliant strike. 🏑

🇮🇳 1:2 🇫🇷#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/7Xaya9xYan

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021

Junior World Cup Hockey LIVE: Sanjay registers a hat-trick but India lose 4-5 to France in nail-biter

Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021: Full Schedule, Pools, LIVE Streaming, Matches List, India Time All you need to know

India Hockey head coach Graham Reid who is overseeing the preparations will be aiming to add another feather to his cap after Tokyo Olympics’ glory.
The hosts are placed in Group B with Canada, Poland and France.
FIH Junior Hockey World Cup is being played in a bio-bubble with strict COVID-19 protocols
France Junior team had finished runners up in 2013 World Cup and will be equal to the challenge.

Today’s matches:

As many as 5 fixtures will be played on Wednesday, including India vs France

Current World Cup winners and Olympic champions Belgium will be in action against South Africa

Germany, who have won the tournament record six times will face off dark horses Pakistan

India vs France
Mayalsia vs Chile
Canada vs Poland
Germany vs Pakistan
Belgium vs South Africa

Group A: Belgium, Chile, Malaysia, South Africa

Group B: India, Canada, France, Poland

Group C: South Korea, Netherlands, Spain, USA

Group D: Argentina, Egypt, Germany, Pakistan

Where to watch India vs France LIVE – Junior Hockey World Cup ?

You can enjoy all the live action on watch.hockey on November 24 at 8 PM IST. Kalinga Stadium in Bhuvaneshwar will host the match.

💙 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘🏑

The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team start their World Cup campaign as they take on France in their first game 🏆

🏟️ – Kalinga Stadium
🕗 – 8:00 PM

Catch the game live only on the https://t.co/pYCSK1ZP62 app.#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/PDpM3vVGQY

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 24, 2021