BHUBANESWAR: Pakistan made a disappointing start to their FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup campaign as they lost 5-2 to Germany here on Wednesday.

Robert Duckscheer scored a brace to give the Germans a winning start in Pool ‘D’.

Six-time world champions Germany were in dominant form as they scored twice in the first quarter with Struthhoff Michael and Duckscheer scoring in the first and 14th minutes.

Abdul Shaheed hit back for Pakistan in the 18th but the Germans restored their advantage through Siegburg Maximilian in the very next minute and Benedikt Schwarzhaupt made it 4-1 in the 22nd.

Pakistan tried to change momentum through Hammaduddin Mohammad’s late push-back in the 49th but Duckscheer sealed victory for the Germans with his second six minutes from time.

Germany will next face Argentina on Friday, a day before Pakistan take on Egypt in their second pool match.

In other matches on the opening day of the tournament, Poland edged Canada 1-0 to take early control of Pool ‘B’.

Belgium and Malaysia both got off to winning starts in Pool ‘A’; the Belgians seeing off South Africa 5-1 while Malaysia edged past Chile 2-1.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2021