After the semifinal thrashing against Germany , India’s head coach PR Sreejesh said it would be ‘painful’ if his wards returned home from Chennai empty-handed after all the work they had put in for a year leading up to the FIH Junior World Cup. For three quarters in the bronze medal match against Argentina on Wednesday, that word perfectly described India’s performance too: ‘painful’.

Then, suddenly, it all changed. Staring at the real prospect of finishing in that most annoying of positions – fourth – for the third straight edition, India sparked into life, scoring four goals in the fourth quarter. Three of those came from Penalty Corners, and one from a Penalty Stroke as India ended a 9-year wait for a podium finish in this tournament, to finish with a bronze.

When asked what the mes

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