Just like the girls, the junior boys started the year on a promising note by clinching the Sultan of Johor Cup title in Malaysia, which gave India the self belief that they can win the Junior World Cup at home.
But Manpreet Singh and his men were in for a rude shock as they failed to live up to the expectations and crashed out in the pool stages, eventually finishing a disappointing 10th in the 16-team event.
The senior men's team too witnessed a bright start to the year as the Sardar Singh-led side registered a six-match unbeaten run in the FIH World League Round 2 at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here to secure a berth in the league's semi-finals in Rotterdam that doubled up as a World Cup qualifier.
But the past masters of the game failed to secure a direct entry in next year's World Cup by finishing outside the top three position at Rotterdam.
After missing a direct entry at the World Cup through Rotterdam, India's best chance to qualify for the quadrennial event was by becoming the continental champions. But that didn't happen as Korea defeated Sardar and Co in the final to win the Asia Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia.
