Did the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team Fall to Spain in the 4 Nations Tournament?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India faced a tough match against Spain.
- Early goals by Spain set the tone for the match.
- India managed to score one goal to avoid a complete defeat.
- The round-robin format determines the next phase of the tournament.
- Improvement areas identified for India.
Berlin, June 24 (NationPress) In their final pool stage match of the 4 Nations Tournament, the Indian junior men’s hockey team faced a disappointing 1-5 defeat against Spain on Tuesday. The match kicked off with Spain taking an early lead, as Pere Amat converted a penalty corner just 2 minutes in, followed by another goal from Santi Martin in the 3rd minute, putting Spain ahead 2-0.
Both teams displayed a dynamic playstyle during the second quarter, with India striving for a goal while Spain aimed to increase their advantage. Nevertheless, the halftime score remained 2-0 in favor of Spain.
In the third quarter, Spain regained dominance and exploited India's defensive mistakes, with Pere Amat scoring his second goal from a penalty corner in the 42nd minute. Shortly after, Josep Martin extended the lead to 4-0 with a field goal in the 43rd minute.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, Spain added a fifth goal through a penalty corner executed by Mario Mena in the 51st minute. India, however, found the net soon after, with Araijeet Singh Hundal scoring a field goal in the 52nd minute, preventing a complete shutout.
This outcome concluded India’s pool stage performance, having previously competed against Germany and Australia. The 4 Nations Tournament features a round-robin format in which all four teams – India, Germany, Australia, and Spain – face off once. The top two teams will advance to the Final, while the bottom two will compete for the 3rd/4th place playoff.