India’s Gritty Quarterfinal Win Sends Them to Junior Hockey World Cup Semi-Finals
— In a nail-biting finish, India outshone Belgium 4-3 in a thrilling shootout during their Men’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup 2025 quarterfinal at the Madurai International Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.
Princedeep Singh: The Hero of the Hour
Princedeep Singh stole the show for the Indian hockey team, making extraordinary saves in the shootout. Lauded as the Player of the Match, Princedeep’s prowess extended beyond the shootout, keeping Belgium at bay during regulation time, particularly in the third quarter when they pressed for penalty corners. When asked about his exceptional performance, Princedeep attributed his growth to learning from his coach, PR Sreejesh, and the galvanizing crowd support in Chennai.
“I’ve learnt a lot from Sreejesh, and watching him has boosted my confidence. Today’s match was sensational, and the crowd support has been incredible.”
Sharda Nand Tiwari and Ankit Pal: The Cool Heads in the Heat
Sharda Nand Tiwari remained unfazed under pressure, scoring thrice in the shootout to keep India in contention. Ankit Pal sealed the win for India, taking the scoreline to 4-3 in their favor.
Gameplay: A Tale of Two Halves
In the hockey game, India started cautiously, absorbing Belgium’s early pressure. Belgium opened the scoring in the 13th minute, leaving India on the backfoot. However, India grew into the game, and their resilience paid off in the third quarter. Trailing 1-2 initially, India scored twice – first through a Rohit dragflick making it 1-1, and later through Sharda Nand Tiwari’s PC, taking the lead to 2-1. Belgium equalized in the 59th minute, forcing a tense shootout.
Next Up: The Seven-time Champions
Having beaten Belgium, India will now face a formidable challenge in the semi-finals when they meet seven-time champions Germany on Sunday. India has previously won the Junior Hockey World Cup twice, with their last triumph in 2016.
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