6 months ago
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Like immoderate existent Argentinian, Juan Ignacio Gilardi loves to research quality successful each its beauty.
The 44-year-old caput manager of the Argentina’s men’s inferior hockey squad for the upcoming 2025 FIH inferior World Cup successful Chennai and Madurai is simply a keen surfer and is besides into kite-surfing.
“I anticipation to find astatine slightest 1 hr to bash kite-surfing here. If you cognize idiosyncratic that takes lessons, interaction me,” Gilardi told The Hindu connected Wednesday aft the team’s accomplishment successful Chennai.
The Argentina men's hockey squad connected accomplishment astatine Chennai airdrome for the FIH inferior men's World Cup connected Wednesday, November 19, 2025. | Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN
But earlier that, helium has rather a fewer scores to settle. Having mislaid to eventual champion Germany successful the quarterfinals of the erstwhile variation (2023), Gilardi is assured Los Leoncitos, the Little Lions, arsenic his squad is called, volition combat for a medal this time.
“We person six players from the erstwhile World Cup. It’s a caller group, beardown and unique. We person immoderate players that are truly skilful, truly powerful. We person rather a fewer punishment country specialists who tin crook retired to beryllium the top-scorers of the tournament, and a bully goalkeeper. We are going to combat for a medal,” helium said.
The squad led by Tomas Ruiz, according to the caput coach, has had bully preparations having won the Pan American hockey championships, with an all-win record.
The Argentinian squad being welcomed astatine Chennai airdrome for the FIH inferior men's World Cup connected Wednesday, November 19, 2025. | Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN
“We won the Pan American Trophy, but we each cognize the World Cup is overmuch harder. Tomorrow (on Nov. 20), we commencement with the signifier matches against India. We volition beryllium ready,” helium said.
Placed successful Group-C with New Zealand, Japan and China, Argentina, the two-time champion, should advancement into the quarterfinals rather comfortably. But Gilardi prefers to hold and watch.
“We don’t cognize excessively overmuch astir Japan and China. We person immoderate videos astir New Zealand. We person to beryllium assured astir our game,” said the 2016 Rio Olympics golden medallist with 174 elder caps (2007-18).
