India champs again
after 15 years!

In the individual awards, Spain’s captain Enrique Gonzalez de Castijon was named as the Uttar Pradesh Best Player of the Tournament, while brilliant Belgian goalkeeper Loic van Doren was given the Uttar Pradesh Goalkeeper of the Tournament award. Edward Horler of England took the HERO Top Scorer of the Tournament award thanks to an eight-goal haul in Lucknow.

In the bronze medal match, Timm Herzbruch inspired Germany to a 3-0 victory over Australia, with the 19-year-old forward scoring twice for his side. The early stages of the match were close contested, with the Burras having some good scoring opportunities in the first half but found themselves going into break a goal down thanks to Jan Schiffer’s 11th minute field goal.

It was a lead that Germany doubled in the second half when the outstanding Herzbruch fired home from open play in the 51st minute. Herzbruch – a nominee for the FIH Rising Star Award for 2016 – also netted Germany’s third goal, launching an unstoppable penalty corner drag-flick into the top right corner ten minutes from time to secure the bronze medal.

“Obviously it is awesome to win. Look at this crowd,” said Germany’s team captain Constantin Staib. “It’s so loud in here, it’s unbelievable. I played in the World League in Raipur last year and it was similar, but not as much as here. It is the best experience I’ve ever had.”

Argentina won the 5-6th place play-off, recording a 2-1 victory over Spain. Nicolas Keenan and Tomas Domene scored goals in the 51st and 54th minute to give the European side a mountain to climb. Spain removed their goalkeeper in the final stages of the match, and their boldness was rewarded three minutes from the end when Marc Perrellon pounced on a loose ball after Joan Tarres hit the post. The Spaniards almost found an equalizer in the closing moments with a penalty corner, but Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Bosso made the save that guaranteed a top five finish for his team.

The Netherlands were comfortable winners of the 7-8th place play-off contest, defeating England 6-2. Seven of the eight goals came in the second half, with Thijs van Dam’s first half penalty corner being added to shortly after the break as Thierry Brinkman made it 2-0 to the Netherlands. Tom Sorsby pulled a goal back before Bram van Groesen and Morris de Vilder increased the Dutch advantage to 4-1.

England’s Will Calnan scored from the penalty spot to reduce the deficit, but additional strikes from Brinkman and Van Groesen both claimed their second goals of the match to complete the scoring.Results –