Bhubaneswar: India ended their campaign in the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup hockey championship as they had started it – with a defeat at the hands of France.
Looking to avenge their 3-4 defeat in the pool match, India went down 1-3 to France in the bronze medal clash at Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.
Timothee Clement scored all three goals for France from penalty corners. Sudeep Chirmako raised hopes of an Indian comeback, but the French defence denied the home team any more goals.
Honours were even in the first quarter and it was late in the second quarter that France edged ahead. Clement made it 2-0 four minutes after half-time. Sudeep’s fine field goal in the 42nd minute made it 1-2, but Clement sealed the deal with another stinging strike early in the final quarter.
India had lost to Germany while France were pipped by Argentina in the semifinals.
