India face arch-rivals Pakistan in Sultan of Johor Cup 2023 opener

The Blue Colts beat Pakistan in their last meeting to lift the Men's Junior Asia Cup title.

The Indian junior men’s hockey team will face Men’s Junior Asia Cup finalists and rivals, Pakistan, in the opening match of the 11th Sultan of Johor Cup 2023 on October 27th in Johor, Malaysia. The 11th Sultan of Johor Cup 2023 features eight teams in this edition instead of the customary six teams in previous editions.

India have been placed in Pool B along with Malaysia, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Pool A will feature Germany, Australia, South Africa, and Great Britain. Their first match will be against Pakistan on October 27. The last time India faced Pakistan; they defeated them 2-1 in an intense final at the Men’s Junior Asia Cup.

The Colts will go on to face Malaysia on October 28, followed by a contest with New Zealand on October 30 to conclude the group stage. They must ensure a top-two finish in Pool B to secure qualification for the semifinals.

Captain Uttam Singh will be assisted by vice-captain Rajinder Singh in his endeavor to lead India to retain the title.

“We will aim for a strong start to our 11th Sultan of Johor Cup 2023 campaign with a win against Pakistan and maintain consistency in our performances, all the way to the finals. Everyone in the squad has worked hard to get to this stage, and we will look to execute the game plan in every single match to the best of our abilities and reap the rewards of our hard work,” said captain Uttam Singh when asked about his expectations for the tournament.

The Indian junior men’s hockey team will be in good stead to back this ambition after titles in the last edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup, the Men’s Junior Asia Cup, and good performances in the 4 Nations Tournament U21 Men in Germany recently.

The tournament will provide the team with an ideal opportunity to test their combinations and also assess the competing teams who will also feature in the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2023.

“This tournament will also be a chance to gauge our standing against some of the top sides that are participating in the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2023 as well. So, the 11th Sultan of Johor Cup 2023 will also help us fine-tune our tactics before a major tournament and put us in the best position to compete in the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2023,” the captain signed off.

Indian junior men’s hockey team schedule

• October 27th - India v Pakistan @ 1335 hrs IST
• October 28th - India v Malaysia @ 1805 hrs IST
• October 30th - India v New Zealand @ 1805 hrs IST.