ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
FIH Hockey Junior World C up: India, Germany make winning starts
It is the first time that Tamil Nadu is playing host to a World Cup in hockey.
-
Prabhjot Paul Singh - Fri, 28, Nov 2025
- 15:58 EST
- 14
First day of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 / fih.hockey
Goals were galore as the FIH Hockey World Cup for Junior Men got underway simultaneously in Madurai and Chennai, with the hosts, India, and defending champions, Germany, notching up comfortable wins in the first round of the league matches.
In all, 56 goals were scored in the first eight matches.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu launches trophy tour, mascot for Junior Hockey World Cup
After being held to a goalless first quarter, India came back strongly in the second quarter with two goals from Rosan Kujur in the 16th and 21st minutes. It was Dilraj Singh, who followed it up with a brace in the second and third quarters with goals in the 25th and 34th minutes. Ajeet Yadav scored India’s fifth goal in the 35th minute, followed by goals by Anmol Ekka in the 48th minute and a stroke conversion by Rohit seconds before the final whistle.
Oman and Switzerland are the other teams in India’s pool.
It is the first time that Tamil Nadu is playing host to a World Cup in hockey. It has held the erstwhile Champions Trophy for men twice, but never any other FIH-overseen event before. A record 24 teams are participating in the tournament.
Defending champions Germany recorded an impressive 4-0 win over South Africa, while the hosts, India, after a goalless first quarter, disposed of the challenge of South Americans, Chile, 7-0.
The biggest win of the day was recorded by Belgium as it trounced Namibia 12-1.
Oman, which came in as a last-minute substitute for Pakistan, went down fighting 0-4 to Switzerland.
Canada, playing with nine players of Indian descent—Paramveer Basra, Gurnoor Bhullar, Gurwinder Brar, Navdip Chandi, Leighton De Souza, Ravpreet Gill, Harjas Sanghera, Gavin Thind, and Robin Thind—went down fighting to Ireland 3-4.
South American champion Argentina defeated Japan 4-1, while Spain swept aside the challenge of African entry, Egypt, 8-0 in the other games.
New Zealand faced stiff resistance from China before emerging as the winner at 5-3.
Related
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