Bertie Jacobs

The Netherlands won, but hockey triumphed. When the final whistle blew on Tuesday, 12 April, it was the Dutch fans who cheered and the players clad in orange who celebrated as the Netherlands beat Germany conclusively 3–1 in the final of the FIH Women’s Hockey Junior World Cup at the Astroturf of the North-West University (NWU) in Potchefstroom.

It will, however, be remiss not to note that the success of the tournament will linger far longer in the mind than the result of the final. 
Wow, what an event. It was especially encouraging to see how fans braved the sometimes less-than-pleasant weather to enjoy some quality hockey.

It was the first time that a hockey event of this nature was hosted on the African continent and, looking at the way it was presented by the NWU, it will not be the last.

Gold for the Dutch and silver for Germany. England took bronze after beating India in a shoot-out after full time. Argentina finished fifth after beating Korea, and South Africa claimed the overall seventh spot with a 3–2 win over the USA.

 The ninth edition of the Women's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup ended with a total of 202 goals, with 13 coming from the Netherlands’ Jip Dicke. Stine Kurz and fellow-German Marli Wichmann were named the best player and best goalkeeper of the tournament respectively. 
The next tournament will be held in Santiago, Chile. 

Deserving champions! Photo: Wouter Pienaar/Potchefstroom Herald