Indian juniors take on Bangaldesh

Indian juniors take on Bangaldesh

Kuala Lumpur, May 2: World Cup runners-up India will aim to qualify for the next edition with the title to boot when they start campaign in the junior Asia Cup (under-21) hockey championship beginning here on Wednesday.

Frontrunners alongwith Pakistan and Korea to seal the three qualifying spots for next year's World Cup to be held at Hobart, India take on lightweights Bangladesh on Wednesday and look assured of a smooth passage into the last four stage.

India are placed in the relatively easy Group B, which also has China, Japan, Uzbekistan and debutants Iran while Group A looks much tougher with Pakistan, winners of the 1997 edition in Singapore, South Korea and upcoming Malaysia to fight it out.

``Of course, first I would cement my place in the World Cup, but immediately after that the team would move into the next level, of winning the championship,'' a confident coach CR Kumar said.

The Indian team has been bolstered by the inclusion of forwards Gagan Ajit Singh and Deepak Thakur, permanant members of the senior side who played vital roles in the recent title win at the Perth four-nation tournament.