India’s junior hockey teams delivered strong performances at their respective World Cups, with the women’s team opening their campaign in style and the men preparing for a crucial group-stage showdown.
Junior Women Crush Namibia 13–0, Go Top of Pool C
India started their FIH Junior Women’s World Cup journey with a dominant 13–0 win over Namibia in Santiago. The formidable victory propelled them to the top of Pool C.
Goal scorers:
- Hina Bano – hat-trick
- Kanika Siwach – hat-trick
- Sakshi Rana – 2 goals
- Binima Dhan, Sonam, Sakshi Shukla, Ishika, Manisha – 1 goal each
The squad, captained by Jyoti Singh, shares Pool C with Germany, Ireland and Namibia. Earlier, Germany defeated Ireland 7–1.
Upcoming fixtures:
- India vs Germany — Tomorrow
- India vs Ireland — Friday
Both matches will determine India’s path to the knockout stages.
Junior Men Face Switzerland Today in Pool B Decider
In the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup being held in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India will meet Switzerland at 8:00 PM IST tonight in their final Pool B match.
Both teams are unbeaten with two wins each, but India sit on top due to a superior goal difference. A win or draw will secure India the top spot heading into the knockout phase.
India’s juniors have begun their campaigns with confidence and firepower, setting the tone for an exciting week ahead on both fronts.