Junior Hockey World Cup: A Belgian eyes revenge against India for his brother | Hockey News

BHUBANESWAR: Gregory Stockbroekx maps the business enterprise engineering scene in Belgium these times. Until eventually 2016 even though, he employed to engineer strategies to get past opponents around a 100-garden pitch with a hockey stick in hand. That mantle given that then has handed onto his brother, Thibeau Stockbroekx, who now finds himself in the very same warzone as his brother five several years in the past — the FIH Junior Hockey Entire world Cup – as soon as once again in India.
The concept from Gregory to his youthful sibling is loud and distinct: ‘Beat India’. That sentiment shared by the Stockbroekx brothers has a backstory set in Lucknow.
It was 2016. On a cold December 18 evening, the Belgian blueprint for results experienced a prospect to incorporate a important bullet level to its sporting background. After the seniors returned to the Olympic podium (silver) in Rio to conclude a 96-year hold out, the Belgian colts arrived close to furnishing a ‘golden’ ending to the calendar year by profitable the Junior Planet Cup (JWC). But India stood in their way in the summit clash.
The Harjeet Singh-led boys, with two breathtaking aims courtesy Gurjant Singh and Simranjeet Singh, set a dagger in Belgian hearts as India tasted its next JWC results amid deafening roars from a packed property.
At the obtaining end of that 2-1 defeat was also Gregory, who incidentally came close to scoring as nicely in the recreation. The agony of that pass up, and of program the decline, is maybe nonetheless burning inside Gregory.

Gregory Stockbroekx, left, with his trouble Thibeau. (Image courtesy – coach Jeroen Baart)
“He will remember it for everyday living,” claimed Thibeau speaking to TimesofIndia.com in Bhubaneswar.
“He nonetheless talks about it with family and mates…I listen to stories from him that it (the 2016 JWC last) was a terrific activity and of course, I want to do far better than him and get versus India.
For own causes, Gregory didn’t go on best-flight hockey outside of two a long time soon after that.
“Gregory selected a diverse route following participating in the Junior World Cup,” coach Jeroen Baart, who was at the helm of affairs in 2016 and now in 2021 as properly, instructed TimesofIndia.com in Bhubaneswar. “I imagine he performed two much more seasons at a substantial level (for Antwerp) in Belgium, but then he chose to concentration far more on his do the job everyday living.”
The mentor went on to compare the playing variations of the two brothers.
“I consider they are distinct athletes. Gregory was a bit scaled-down and a bit extra sturdy, a little bit additional on intuition, whereas Thibeau is much additional refined, a bit more on procedure, a little bit extra speed on him,” reported Baart.
By the way Emmanuel Stockbroekx, who is Gregory and Thibeau’s cousin and third major-flight hockey player in the loved ones performs for the Red Lions (senior Belgium workforce) and was component of the 2016 silver medal-profitable Olympic group and the 2018 squad that gained the Earth Cup.

Thibeau Stockbroekx (Photograph courtesy – Hockey Belgium’s Twitter deal with)
More than TO THIBEAU
For now, it is really Thibeau’s time.
Like his elder brother 5 decades back, Thibeau is in this article to enjoy the JWC for Belgium, who future encounter hosts India in the quarterfinals. And that is the connection, and the sentiment. Thibeau has a opportunity to do what Gregory could not.
In truth, Gregory messaged Thibeau a couple days back.
“I been given a concept from him (Gregory). He said, ‘This time India will not gain. Do anything you can to conquer them.’ But we enjoy them in the quarterfinals and he played India in the remaining. So there is a massive distinction,” Thibeau further more advised TimesofIndia.com.
Thibeau is bang on. There is a major distinction, just that perhaps he does not still realise that obtaining knocked out in the quarters will harm India way more than what the defeat in the 2016 closing did to Belgium. And so it will be for Belgium too, if India as soon as all over again deal with to set it across them.
But the earth these days and the environment in Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium is a large amount different than the Lucknow of 2016. Covid protocols make your mind up very much everything, such as no matter if there will be spectators in the stands.
In Bhubaneswar, there will just be a handful of enthusiasts. In Lucknow, the stadium was comprehensive.
“Gregory as soon as explained to me that they couldn’t converse with every single other on the pitch (throughout the 2016 JWC remaining) for the reason that it was so noisy,” claimed Thibeau, who has by now performed for the Crimson Lions.
“This is my to start with JWC. We have all been searching forward to it. I feel no person in our staff, apart from the coach, has been right here (in India) ahead of. It’s an remarkable stadium. None of us have played in these kinds of a large stadium with 16,000 potential,” the 21-yr-old additional.
The modify rooms that Odisha developed for the groups with individualized place for each participant has also caught Thibeau’s awareness.
“The stadium is actually great, also the changing space which has your name and your own seat.
“Everyone right here loves hockey. There is certainly definitely a whole lot of passion in the sport, in the papers listed here. It is very unique than what we get in Belgium. There is additional attention for the sport. In Belgium, it is really growing but not as massive as listed here. It’s great to see ourselves in newspapers and on Television set,” he additional instructed TimesofIndia.com.

Thibeau Stockbroekx (Image courtesy – Thibeau’s Instagram account)
THE QUARTERFINAL
In all fairness, India did not count on to satisfy Belgium in the quarterfinals but a defeat in opposition to France in their opening game put the house crew on the backfoot, until they demolished Canada and Poland to complete second in Pool B.
The Belgians, with two wins and a attract, topped Pool A by edging out No. 2 Malaysia on goal change.
“I consider it really is heading to be a fantastic match…We have been analysing (India’s video game). They are truly excellent on the counter. They are enjoying in their own stadium and have a whole lot of passion in their recreation,” claimed Thibeau.
All of India’s drag-flickers, especially Sanjay and Araijeet Singh Hundal, have exhibited good scoring variety — forcing opponents to be cautious of India off penalty corners (Laptop). Belgium’s worries are together the same lines.
“We have have confidence in in our goalkeepers and our Pc defence workforce. We will do every little thing we can to halt them, but in the initially position, we do not want to give them any PCs, since I consider it can be a weapon for them,” stated the striker.
Thibeau is considered to be one particular of the best properties in Belgian hockey currently, 1 who could go on to make a fortune for himself and his region on the pitch. But with his elder brother’s inclination to making a qualified profession, coach Baart sounded a little bit anxious.
“I am not certain what Thibeau needs to do in the following few of a long time, but I assume he has a quite shiny potential (in hockey) in advance of him. He can actually conquer the hockey earth, and I am looking forward to that as a mentor.”