FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025: Unbeaten India beat Switzerland 5–0, set up quarterfinal clash with Belgium

The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team continued their commanding form at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025, completing the league stage with a perfect record after a comprehensive 5–0 victory over Switzerland in Madurai on Tuesday.

The win not only reaffirmed India’s dominance in Pool B but also set up a high stakes quarterfinal meeting with Belgium on 5 December, a contest expected to test the hosts far more than any of their group fixtures.

Led by skipper Rohit and guided by the experience of PR Sreejesh in the coaching role, India entered the match with confidence built on strong wins over Chile and Oman. Against Switzerland, they displayed the same fluency and sharpness that has defined their campaign so far. The contest began with India dictating possession and tempo, and the early breakthrough arrived almost immediately.

It was a dream start for India and for Manmeet Singh, who celebrated his birthday by opening the scoring in just the 2nd minute, capitalising on a well–constructed move to give the hosts the lead. The forward line kept the pressure relentless, and Manmeet doubled India’s advantage in the 11th minute, showcasing excellent positioning and composure to make it 2–0. Switzerland, struggling to adjust to India’s speed and pressing, found themselves on the defensive throughout the opening quarter.

Just two minutes later, India struck again. This time, drag-flick specialist Sharda Nand Tiwari converted a penalty corner with authority in the 13th minute, putting India 3–0 ahead and sending the Madurai crowd into loud celebration. Despite challenging cyclonic conditions, local fans turned up in strong numbers, and the team repaid that loyalty with attacking hockey that never dipped in intensity.

India’s fourth goal came just before halftime. Arshdeep Singh, who had scored a hat-trick in India’s previous match against Oman, continued his excellent scoring run by striking in the 28th minute. The young striker has emerged as one of the standout forwards of the tournament so far, consistently finding ways to break defensive lines and finish under pressure.

While the forwards were impressive, India’s defence remained equally assured. Goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh delivered a notable performance, pulling off crucial saves at key moments to deny any breakthrough for Switzerland. His calm presence ensured India preserved their spotless defensive record in the tournament 29 goals scored and none conceded during the league phase.

With a 4–0 cushion heading into the final quarter, India showed no signs of slowing down. The team maintained its structure, rotated effectively, and continued pushing forward. The fifth and final goal arrived in the 54th minute, again through Sharda Nand Tiwari, who converted another penalty corner. Awarded Player of the Match, Sharda capped off a fine performance that underlined his growing influence as one of the team’s set-piece specialists.

This victory followed India’s 7–0 win over Chile and the emphatic 17–0 triumph against Oman, ensuring they topped their pool with maximum points and an exceptional goal difference. More importantly, the team enters the knockout stage with confidence, rhythm, and tactical clarity.

However, the challenge ahead is far sterner. India will now face Belgium one of Europe’s most disciplined and technically accomplished junior sides in the quarterfinal to be held in Chennai on 5 December. The match promises a significant shift in intensity, marking the first major test of India’s title ambitions.

Fans can follow the action live with streaming available on JioHotstar, as the hosts aim to keep their unbeaten run alive and push towards the semifinals of the Junior World Cup on home soil.