Extremely proud of our youngsters! Congratulations to our junior hockey team for winning the #JuniorHockeyWorldCup. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1482083072000

The #JuniorHockeyWorldCup win augurs well for the future of Indian hockey & will make the sport even more popular among youngsters. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1482083147000

We're progressing in Hockey. Prize money of Rs 3 Lakh will b given to each player-Vijay Goel,Union Sports Min on Ju… https://t.co/7XjlICkHzJ — ANI (@ANI_news) 1482076265000

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Junior Hockey World Cup: India claim title with 2-1 win over Belgium

NEW DELHI: For the second time this year, Harjeet Singh's junior Indian men's hockey team beat Belgium on the way to lifting a trophy; this one, however, was the biggest prize of all.In its first such final in 15 years, India overwhelmed Belgium 2-1 to lift the 2016 Hockey Junior World Cup at Lucknow's Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium on Sunday and become the second team, after Gagan Ajit Singh 's colts in 2001, to get their hands on the most coveted title.On the biggest day for Indian junior men's hockey since the class of 2001 claimed the Junior World Cup, Harjeet's dominating Indian team was put ahead within minutes when Gurjant Singh stunningly knocked one past Belgium goalkeeper Loic van Doren to give the colts a much-needed boost and an early lead. Up 2-0 by half-time following a Simranjeet Singh field goal, India never let off the pressure.This win maintained India's 100% record in the tournament and underlined their status as rightful winners.Belgium, having stunned six-time champions and defending champions Germany 4-3 in a shoot-out in the semi-finals, were overawed in the initial passages of their first Junior World Cup final. The start to this summit clash was electric and one-sided as India managed two shots and seven circle penetrations inside ten minutes. India were the faster side, and that was, ultimately, the difference.India had beaten Belgium during the Four Nations Invitational in Spain earlier this year, and having the support of packed and wholly partisan stadium reverberating with a collective roar was added incentive to repeat the decimation. The home team needed less than three minutes for to find a penalty corner, but Harmanpreet Singh lost control as soon as he collected from Parvinder Singh . A second came hardly two minutes later, but this time Santa Singh's pass to midfielder Sumit Kumar on the edge of the circle was fumbled.And yet Belgium's defense was breached before India had time to reflect on those sloppy collections, for in the eighth minute the fans were on their feet when Gurjant netted a ferocious reverse hit into the far corner of the goal. That was a huge lapse because it was van Doren, it must be said, whose superb display in front of goal during the shoot-outs against Germany helped Belgium complete a stunning upset win.Harmanpreet made amends for his earlier miss by providing some dazzling play from the left and right flanks, and another goal went begging when Parvinder narrowly missed a deflection. This attacking play put the Belgium defenders under immense pressure, and you got the sense that another goal was never far away.Sure enough, in the 22nd minute some attacking stick work saw India's attackers break into the circle as one and Simranjeet score a cracker of a field goal, with a reverse shot sneaking in past van Doren.The intensity was maintained throughout the remainder of the first half, backed by the pulsating home fans. Belgium did not enter the circle until the 20th minute and in the 30th managed their first penalty corner, and yet they couldn't quite lift to convert any goals. Gregory Stockbroekx had a chance with five minutes left in the first half but the runner at the post deflected it just wide of Indian goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya.Far more assured defensive work in the second half meant that India didn't have as many opportunities, but they maintained their lead over Belgium who gave it their all in trying to take more control of the game. A good save from van Doren saved a third goal in the 49th minute, and ten minutes later the Belgium custodian denied Gurjant with a superb one-handed stop.On a chilly winter evening, as the clock ticked down in the stadium named after Indian hockey's greatest icon, it was the atmosphere that stood out. Two saves from Dahiya were received with a tumultuous din, and each time India's offensive pack sped down the line it was with the unanimous expectation of another goal. A PC to Belgium with seconds remaining had no bearing on the result, and when the full-time whistle was blown, India's fans were truly given something unforgettable to cheer about - with Harjeet's unbeatable heroes ending a 15-year jinx to claim the Junior Hockey World Cup.