New Delhi, 13 October 2016: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed the official match schedule for the Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup Men, Lucknow 2016 which will take place between 8-18 December 2016 in Lucknow, India.
With a total of only one rest day on Tuesday 13 December 2016 for the tournament, fans will be treated to 10 days of high-speed, action packed hockey at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium Lucknow as the world’s rising stars battle it out to in what will be one of the most competitive hockey events of the year.
A hotbed of hockey, Lucknow’s sports fans turned out in force to cheer on the Uttar Pradesh Wizards during the Coal India Hockey India League earlier this year. They will no doubt be looking forward to cheering on the world’s best prospects who will take to the field in their home city.
The pool stages will take place between 8-12 December 2016 before the classification matches begin on 14 December 2016. The medal matches will then be held on Sunday 18 December 2016, with the Bronze medal match at 16:45 hrs and the Final taking place at 19:00 hrs (All times are IST).
The Indian Junior squad is in Pool D slotted with England, South Africa and Canada.
They open their campaign against Canada on December 8th immediately after the opening ceremony. India will face off against England and South Africa in their second and third pool matches on December 10 and December 12, respectively, with rest days in between.
India’s biggest challenge will come from defending champions Germany, perennial contenders Australia and dark horses Argentina.
The Junior team isn’t short on confidence or form though and has been on a high over the past few months in the build-up to the World Cup. They have, over the past months, won the Eurasia Cup, drawn a highly competitive test series in England and, most remarkably, finished fourth in the Australian Hockey League earlier this month.
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