Junior Hockey World Cup LIVE - India stunned by France in opening match - Updates, score, results, blog
Half Time: France 3-2 India
The Indians try to take their time as the first half winds down. The half-time hooter goes. France up by a solitary goal.
The fastest game of the World Cup so far, with the French team having stunned the hosts with their speed of play. Goalkeeper Prashant Chauhan has been the player of the match so far for India.
A few photos of the opening ceremony, which was held before the match:
France on the attack in Q2
Bornac earns another PC, France now swing things again with Indian defenders holding on to the ball too long. Prashant saves as the PC comes in! Another PC. France are all over India in these few minutes. Clement with another drag flick! Over the goal. India survive. Prashant tries to calm his defenders down. Maninder now with an attack as India counter attack, but the shot flies wide.
France 3-2, 3 minutes left in the 2nd Quarter.
France score! France 3-2 India, 6 minutes left in Q2
Berier weaves into the semi-circle. And again, Prashant Chauhan is up to the job. Wins a one-on-one situation. Now India counter at the speed of light. Uttam Singh drives the attack forward from the left flank, but a French defender makes a last-gasp interception in the circle.
France's attacks look a lot slower than how they started the match. India with the lion's share of the possession. Now France have a PC. Their first PC with 7 minutes left in Q2. A drag flick by Timothy Clement! And France score. Get back in the lead. 6 minutes left in Q2.
2nd Quarter: India 2-2 France
2nd Quarter begins. India again the side on the ascendancy. Sunil Jojo with the first attack of the quarter for the hosts. India got 2 Penalty corners in Q1, and converted both of them.
Prashant pulls off a save! France mount their first attack in the 3rd minute, but the Indian goal custodian is up to the task.
India equalize with last touch of Q1: India 2-2 France
Uttam to Maninder... Maninder shoots! Saved! India still with the possession inside the circle, another attempt. A miss. India mounting the attacks.
Another penalty corner for India in the dying seconds of the first quarter. France players protest the decision but the decision stands. And it's a goal! Sanjay, the drag flick specialist, flicks the delivery inside the goal. With the last touch of the 1st quarter, India equalize!
It's 2-2 at the end of Q1.
Goal! India strike back! France 2-1 India
Uttam Singh turns it around. There are 2 rebounds inside the D as India take the first PC of the match. Till Uttam Singh turns around like a whirlpool and swishes the ball inside the goal! India's first goal of the World Cup.
4 minutes left in the first quarter. More and more Indian shirts now pushing forward.
France 2-0 India
Another goal! France dribble through the Indian ranks and pound in another one. Benjamin Marque the goalscorer. The defenders were helpless this time. What a stunning start from France.
Around 5 minutes left in the first quarter. Their physical strength also looks to be a disadvantage against the French. Now India have a penalty corner, the first PC of the match.
1st quarter: France 1-0 India
France No.25 Jules Bournac the goalscorer, scoring just after the 1-minute mark. Fastest opening goal of the Junior World Cup!
France with another attack now. Into the D...surrounded by two Indian defenders, a foul is called for a high shot. India again try to mount an attack - it's end-to-end in these initial minutes.
France 1-0 India
What a disastrous start to the World Cup! France score in the 2nd minute of the game. The initial shot is saved, but France score off the rebound!
Arijit Singh with a counter-attack now for India. Stunned, can the hosts strike back?
World Cup opening ceremony
The World Cup stage is set. The World Cup is officially thrown open.