India, Germany, Argentina, and Belgium Open Campaign with Big Wins at FIH Junior World Cup
CHENNAI:Hosts India delivered a commanding performance yesterday to begin their FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025 campaign with a resounding 7-0 victory over Chile in their first Pool B match at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai.
The two-time champions, coached by PR Sreejesh and led by defender Rohit, dominated the match to take an early lead in their pool, which also includes Oman and Switzerland. The tournament, featuring a record 24 teams across venues in Chennai and Madurai, saw several title contenders open with a win.
Defending champions Germany, the most successful team in Junior World Cup history with seven titles, defeated South Africa 4-0 in a Group A match held in Madurai. In the same group, Ireland edged Canada 4-3.
Other heavyweight victories included two-time champions Argentina beating Japan 4-1 in Group C, while Belgium thrashed debutants Namibia 12-1 and Spain outplayed Egypt 8-0 in Group D. Meanwhile, Switzerland secured a 4-0 win over Oman in India’s Pool B. The format sees the six group winners and the two best second-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
