The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team fell agonizingly short of glory at the Sultan of Johor Cup 2025, going down 1–2 to Australia in a tense final at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru.
Despite a spirited display and a dominant attacking performance for long stretches, the Blue Colts were undone by a late penalty corner conversion from Australia’s Ian Grobbelaar (59’), who had earlier opened the scoring. For India, Anmol Ekka (17’) was the lone scorer, equalising early in the second quarter after Grobbelaar’s initial strike. But as the clock wound down, the Australians’ composure in set pieces made the difference once again, handing India their fifth runner-up finish in eight appearances at the tournament.
A Tournament of Promise, Ending in Heartbreak
The 2025 edition marked India’s return to the final after two consecutive bronze medals in 2023 and 2024. Their road to the summit clash showcased a balanced blend of attacking flair and defensive resilience: wins over Great Britain (3–2), New Zealand (4–2), and Malaysia (2–1), along with a 3–3 draw against Pakistan and a group-stage defeat to Australia (2–4). But in Saturday’s final, India came agonisingly close to flipping that earlier result — only to be denied by the same opponent in the dying minute.
India began the match with sharp intent, keeping possession through quick triangular passing and pressing high up the pitch. Within the first five minutes, Araijeet Singh Hundal and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha combined beautifully to open up the Australian defence, setting up Gurjot Singh in front of goal. However, Australian goalkeeper Magnus McCausland was alert, producing a smart save to deny India an early lead. Moments later, Amir Ali unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the circle, which Gurjot cleverly deflected, but McCausland once again reacted sharply. The missed chances would come to haunt India later.
Against the run of play, Australia earned their first penalty corner in the 13th minute. Drag-flicker Ian Grobbelaar made no mistake, firing past Indian goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh to give the Kookaburras a 1–0 lead. Prince Deep, however, ensured the deficit stayed minimal with a stunning reflex save off another Australian penalty corner just before the end of the quarter.
Ekka’s Equaliser Sparks Hope
The second quarter saw India respond with renewed urgency. Their pressing yielded two back-to-back penalty corners within minutes. On the second attempt, Anmol Ekka unleashed a fiery low flick that crashed into the net to level the score at 1–1 in the 17th minute.
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Buoyed by the equaliser, the Blue Colts continued to surge forward. Araijeet, their attacking spearhead, forced multiple penalty corners before halftime, but his drag flicks were kept out by the Australian rushers and goalkeeper. India’s penalty corner execution, which had been a strength throughout the tournament, seemed to desert them at crucial junctures. By the end of the match, India had earned eight penalty corners but converted only one.
A Tight Third Quarter: Both Teams Push for Control
The third quarter saw both teams intensify their physical and tactical exchanges. India’s defenders Priyobarta Talem, Manmeet Singh, and Ajay Yadav stood tall against Australia’s high press, while the midfield pairing of Rohit and Amir Ali dictated much of India’s forward rhythm.
A long aerial ball from Priyobarta found Amir Ali in the left channel, creating one of India’s best chances of the period. His attempt drew another penalty corner, but Australia’s defence remained steadfast. As the clock ticked on, the Australians started finding space through counterattacks. Prince Deep Singh pulled off another crucial save in the 42nd minute to deny Luke Berg, keeping India firmly in the contest.
Final Quarter Drama: Grobbelaar Strikes Again
The final fifteen minutes were played at a furious pace. India, sensing the momentum, pushed numbers forward. Ajit Yadav dispossessed an Australian defender deep inside their half and went for goal himself, but his shot went narrowly wide. Soon after, Rohit missed another golden opportunity from India’s eighth penalty corner, dragging the shot inches past the post. As fatigue set in, Australia capitalised on their set-piece efficiency. In the 59th minute, they earned a late penalty corner after a deflection off an Indian foot. Up stepped Ian Grobbelaar again — and the drag flick found its mark, giving Australia a 2–1 lead with just over a minute to play.
India poured forward in search of an equaliser, earning two last-second penalty corners, but the execution faltered. As the final whistle blew, Australia celebrated their second consecutive Sultan of Johor Cup title, while India were left ruing missed chances.
The loss marks India’s fifth final defeat at the Sultan of Johor Cup, continuing a pattern of near-misses. The Blue Colts have now finished as runners-up in 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, and 2025. Their lone title came in 2022, when they defeated Australia 4–5 in a thriller making this result all the more poignant. Yet, this campaign was far from a disappointment. Under coach C.R. Kumar, the Indian juniors displayed immense growth, improving upon their bronze finishes from the last two editions. The defensive unit showed structure and discipline, while the midfield’s fluidity anchored by Rohit and Amir Ali allowed India to dictate possession against stronger opponents.
Despite the heartbreak, this young squad leaves Johor with valuable lessons and growing credibility. Players like Anmol Ekka, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Ajay Yadav, and Prince Deep Singh have shown they can perform under pressure, while the team’s overall structure indicates a smooth transition pipeline toward senior national duty.
India’s performance against elite U21 teams like Great Britain, New Zealand, and Pakistan reflects the growing depth in Indian hockey’s next generation. The key, as always, will be refining penalty corner conversion and finishing the two factors that separated silver from gold this time.
As the sun set on the Johor turf, India’s juniors could hold their heads high. They matched Australia blow for blow in one of the most competitive finals the tournament has seen in recent years. The 1–2 defeat may sting for now, but the campaign reaffirmed India’s status as a top-tier force in world junior hockey resilient, skilful, and relentlessly competitive.
The Sultan of Johor Cup 2025 might have ended in silver, but for Indian hockey’s future stars, it gleamed with the promise of gold yet to come.
