Top five title contenders for Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup

A total of 16 teams will contest the upcoming tournament.

The 2021 Women's Junior Hockey World Cup is slated to be held from 5 to 16 December 2021 in Potchefstroom, South Africa. This will be the ninth edition of the biennial event, which is organized for U-21 field hockey players by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). 

The Netherlands have been the dominant force in the competition so far, winning the tournament three times. However, Argentina are the defending champions. Moreover, Argentina, Korea, Germany and the Netherlands are the only teams who have qualified for every edition of the competition till now. 

In the eight editions conducted so far, India have qualified four times for the mega event, with their best performance coming in 2013, where they managed to win a bronze medal.  

With all that being said, let's take a look at the top five contenders who can win the upcoming Women's Junior Hockey World Cup title: 

5. India 

India have qualified three times for the tournament and their best performance was a bronze medal at the 2013 edition. Considering the development and upliftment of the sport in the country, the Indian senior team finished in fourth place at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It was the best performance by the Indian team in the competition and the junior team will also like to take inspiration from that. 

The junior women's hockey team missed out on the 2016 edition due to a fourth-place finish at the 2015 Junior Asia Cup. However, they are back in the 2021 edition after being nominated by the Asian Hockey Federation following the cancellation of the 2021 Junior Asia Cup, which was the qualification tournament for the World Cup. 

4. Germany

Germany have won only one title at the Women's Junior Hockey World Cup. It was the very first edition of the tournament in 1989. However, since then, they have not been able to reclaim the crown, with their best performance being reaching the final of the 2005 edition. 

In 1989, the European side defeated the Netherlands in the semi-finals before defeating South Korea in the final. They scripted history, as they became the first country to win the youth World Cup. 

3. South Korea 

South Korea are the only Asian country to win the Women's Junior Hockey World Cup title. They have won the title two times in the year 2001 and 2005. At the 2001 edition, they defeated hosts and favourites Argentina in the final. Further, in 2005, they beat the Netherlands in the semi-final before beating Germany in the final.

Having said that, South Korea are one strong team that can give tough competition to all the other teams in the upcoming competition. 

2. Netherlands

The Netherlands are the most successful team in the Junior World Cup. Notably, out of the eight editions held so far, they have won the title three times. They won their maiden one in 1997, but had to wait another 12 years to taste their second title in 2009. They defended their title successfully in 2013 as well.  

The Dutch team are one of the topmost contenders to win the title in the upcoming edition as well, considering their history at the tournament. Their senior team won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which could inspire the junior team to achieve success at the upcoming edition of the Junior World Cup.

1. Argentina

After the Netherlands, the South Americans are the most successful team in the Women's Junior Hockey World Cup. They are the defending champions for the 2021 edition, having won the tournament in 2016. 

Argentina won their maiden World Cup title in 1993, which was the second edition of the tournament. However, they were unable to clinch another crown over the next two decades, despite reaching the final three times. Their fortune changed at the 2016 World Cup, where they met the Netherlands in the final. Interestingly, this was the third final between the two teams. However, Argentina emerged victorious to win their second World Cup title. 

The expectations will be high from Argentina at the upcoming tournament. They are a strong contender to defend their title.

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