Defending champions Argentina arrived in Kuala Lumpur for the Junior World Cup with a coaching staff that nine years ago won the country’s first-ever hockey gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.   Head coach Juan Ignacio Gilardi was a defender and drag-flick specialist at the Rio Olympics, while his assistant Ignacio Ortiz scored the third goal in Argentina’s 4-2 victory over Belgium in the final.   Gilardi was 37 years old when he played in the Rio Olympics, whereas Ortiz was 27.   They have been assigned the task of taking the Los Leoncitos (Little Lions), a moniker for the junior team, to the final of the Junior World 2023 edition.

The Argentinians arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday and held their first training session in the evening at the National Hockey Stadium but rain and thunderstorm disrupted their session briefly.   “We had a long journey from Buenos Aires to Kuala Lumpur. I know we are the defending champions, but this is a new World Cup for us. We are certainly not the favourites. Our victory in 2021 is in the past now. It is history. We have to play our best to win our matches,” said Gilardi playing down his team’s favourite tag.   “There are so many strong teams here. Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, India, Pakistan, and even Malaysia are strong opposition. All the teams playing in the JWC are good and strong. We have watched the Malaysian team play on video. They are fast and a strong side,” said Gilardi, adding that there are many contenders for the title.   “There is not much pressure because this is a different team. There are only five players in our team who played in the 2021 World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India. But I think we are well-prepared, and with good performance, we hope we can do well in the tournament,” he countered.

The five are captain Inaki Minadeo, Joaquin Toscani and Ignacio Nardolillo (midfielders), Mateo Fernandez (defender), and Bautista Capurro (forward).   “All the other players are making their debut in the JWC. I believe the scenario is the same in most of the teams. Almost 80 percent of the teams have new players. It is going to be a different kind of challenge,” he added.   “We are happy to be here early to adapt to the climate and the pitch. Technically and physically, we are ready for the first match,” he said.

No team could stop Argentina from reclaiming the Junior Pan American Championship 2023 in Barbados, with captain Minadeo scoring six goals to help Argentina to comfortable wins over Brazil (11-0), Chile (7-0), the United States (7-0), and Canada (6-1).   Capurro scored four goals in the 6-1 victory against Canada in the final, and Joaquin Toscani was named Player of the Tournament. Both players, including Minadeo, will spearhead Argentina’s challenge in the World Cup.