Match: India v Belgium
Date: 18 December, Sunday
Time: 8:30pm SGT/6pm IST/12:30pm GMT
Competition: Junior Hockey World Cup 2016
Venue: Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Lucknow
TV Channel: There is no live TV coverage in Singapore.
Live Streaming: Hotstar, Olympic Channel
Live Updates will be available on the tournament's official website.
Overview
2001 winners India take on maiden finalists Belgium in the title match of this year's Junior Hockey World Cup at home in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
India have been impressive in the ongoing tournament, winning all their group stage matches and coming up with clinical performances in their final stage matches as well. The U21 men's team came back from behind after conceding an early goal to stun former champions Australia on Saturday.
Two second half goals made sure India were level at 2-2 at the end of the regular period after which their strikers came out all guns blazing in the shootout to shun out Australia 4-2 and seal a spot in the final.
Skipper Harjeet Singh has been solid in the midfield for the hosts and drag flickers Harmanpreet Singh and Varun Kumar have done the job despite missing quite a lot of chances. On Sunday, they need to be on top of their game against a much-improved Belgium side, who have displayed impressive all-round capabilities in the ongoing tournament.
Belgium's backline has been solid so far as it conceded the least number of goals in the group stages (2) and held heavyweights Argentina and Germany, in the quarter-final and the semi-final, respectively in the regular time to take the match to penalties.
Belgium, who have had a good year in 2016 as their senior men's hockey team clinched a silver at the Rio Games, will be looking to make it big in the junior category's biggest event. India will be rallied by a strong home support but their opponents will rely on their impressive ability to persist with an attacking intent to do the job on the big night.
Team News
India
Squad: Harmanpreet, Vikramjit, Varun, Simranjeet, Krishan, Armaan, Mandeep, Dipsan, Parvinder, Manpreet, Gurjant, Sumit, Santa, Vikas, Harjeet, Nilakanta, Ajit
Belgium
Squad: Van Doren, Charles, De Sloover, Donckx, Van Bockrijick, Wegnez, Van Linthoudt, Antoine, Philippe, Nicolas, Robbert, Augustin, Thomas, Martin, Raes, Van Lierde, Stockbroekx, Alexis
TV Schedule
India: Star Sports 4
