ADVERTISEMENTs
FIH Junior World Cup 2025: India, Pakistan in Pool B
In 2023, India finished fourth, losing 1-3 to Spain in the losing bronze medal game.
-
Prabhjot Paul Singh - Sat, 28, Jun 2025
- 23:56 EDT
- 24
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is the global governing body for field hockey, organizing major tournaments like the Hockey World Cup. / FIH website
Traditional rivals and neighbours India and Pakistan find themselves pitted against each other in the FIH Junior World Cup Hockey Tournament in Madurai and Chennai from November 28 to December 10.
Besides India and Pakistan, other teams in Pool B are Chile and Switzerland.
It is the first time that 24 teams will compete in the FIH Junior World Cup for men.
The defending champions, Germany, are placed in pool A along with Canada, South Africa, and Ireland.
France, which finished as runners-up in the last edition, is in pool F, where the other teams are Australia, Korea, and Bangladesh.
In 2023, India finished fourth, losing 1-3 to Spain in the losing bronze medal game.
In the previous 13 editions of the Junior World Cup, 648 matches have been played, with 3,262 goals scored. So far, 31 teams have already participated in the previous editions.
Germany (2023), Argentina (2021), India (2016), Germany (2013 and 2009), Argentina (2005), India (2001), Australia (1997), Germany (1993, 1989, 1985, and 1982), and Pakistan (1979) had been the previous winners of this event.
It is the fourth time that India will be hosting this tournament. Previously, India staged the Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar (2021), Lucknow (2016), and New Delhi (2013). The last edition in 2023 was held in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has also organised this tournament four times, including the most recent edition. The other three previous occasions were Johor Baharu (2009), Ipoh (1989), and Kuala Lumpur (1982).
After one postponement (initially scheduled for June 24), the draw ceremony was held on Saturday in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the six pools of the upcoming expanded FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup, to be held in Tamil Nadu, India, in 2025, featuring 24 teams for the very first time, were determined. The pools are
Pool A: Germany, South Africa, Canada, Ireland
Pool B: India, Pakistan, Chile, Switzerland
Pool C: Argentina, New Zealand, Japan, China
Pool D: Spain, Belgium, Egypt, Namibia
Pool E: Netherlands, Malaysia, England, Austria
Pool F: France, Australia, Korea, Bangladesh
FIH President Tayyab Ikram, who participated in the draw ceremony along with Bhola Nath Singh, Hockey India Secretary General, and Commodore (retd) RK Srivastava, Hockey India Director General, said, "It is a great pleasure for me to be here ahead of a milestone moment as we start the journey towards the first-ever 24-team FIH Junior Hockey World Cup.
"It is a part of the FIH strategy to empower and engage the youth from all nations, including the emerging nations, and this event will be the first step towards doing that. I express my gratitude to the Tamil Nadu leadership, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, for welcoming the young stars to the state of Tamil Nadu and the two beautiful cities of Chennai and Madurai."
Related
.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg)
.jpg)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login