Indian U-18 hockey teams leave for Youth Olympic Games

The Indian U-18 men’s and women’s hockey teams left for the Buenos Aires for the Youth Olympic Games from the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Tuesday.

This is the first time Indian hockey teams will be participating at the Youth Olympic Games and the anticipation and confidence were evident on the faces of the young hockey stars.

While the women’s team grouped in Pool A will begin their campaign on October 7 against Austria, the men’s team grouped in Pool B will begin their campaign on the same day against Bangladesh.

The two teams were based in Bhopal for their preparatory camps.

“We have had good preparations ahead of the Youth Olympic Games. As a team, we are confident of good results and we will give it our all,” expressed women’s team coach Baljeet Singh Saini.

Meanwhile, Kariappa, the men’s team coach, said the preparations have put the side in good stead to perform well at the prestigious event.