Bhubaneswar: Title hopes already shattered, defending champions India even failed to attain on the rostrum as they lost 1-3 to France in the bronze-medal play-off match of the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup right here on Sunday.
France skipper Timothee Clement slammed a hat-trick to stun the hosts all over all over again and salvage the bronze medal.
Clement converted three penalty corners for France in the 26th, 34th and 47th minutes while India’s lone goal modified into struck by Sudeep Chirmako in the 42nd minute.
It modified into the 2d consecutive flop screen from the Indians after their superlative performance against Belgium in the quarterfinals.
The third-fourth region match modified into a gamble for India to avenge their 4-5 defeat against France in their match opener, but it modified into to no longer be because the European facet persevered to dominate the hosts with an attractive performance.
France were by far the upper facet on the pitch as they controlled the complaints after a sedate first quarter and earned as many as 14 penalty corners as against India’s appropriate three.
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 5, 2021
India began on a shining screen and exerted tension on France defence in the first quarter, which resulted in a penalty nook as early as in the first minute of the game, but the hosts failed to utilise the possibility.
The Indians persevered to press exhausting and got right here shut to securing the lead in the 12th minute when Araijeet Singh Hundal’s shot from top of the circle hit the post.
France bought their footing into the match on the fag end of the first quarter when they secured three penalty corners in succession but the Indian defence did handiest ample to assist their rivals at bay.
France persevered to assault in the 2d quarter because the Indians played hold-up hockey.
Three minute into the 2d quarter, France secured one more penalty nook but all over again it went in vain.
India too created a few probabilities but all those fizzled out contained in the France circle.
France persevered to press the Indian defence and in the approach earned their fifth penalty nook in the 26th minute which modified into converted by Clement with a low lunge-flick to the just of Indian custodian Prasanth Chauhan.
France persevered their attacking game after the swap of ends and secured five penalty corners minutes after the launch of the third quarter, the final of which modified into converted by Clement to hand the European facet a 2-0 lead.
Minutes later India earned a penalty nook but Shardanand Tiwari’s flick modified into deflected wide by the first rusher.
Seconds later Sudeep’s are attempting from shut vary modified into saved by the France goalkeeper.
In the 42nd minute Sudeep gave the host’s a ray hope by reducing the margin with a area goal.
Nonetheless France persevered to assault and earned their 11th penalty nook in the 47th minute and all over all over again Clement modified into bang heading in the correct direction.
France did no longer ease tension on the Indian defence and in the approach earned three more penalty corners but failed to expand their lead.
Sudeep bought a shining chance for India minutes later but his contact from Araijeet Singh Hundal’s dash went wide.
India had one more chance to decrease the margin in the create of a penalty nook but vice-captain Sanjay Kumar’s flick modified into smartly defended by France.
