27 Nov, 2025 With less than 24 hours remaining until the start of the 14th edition of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, which will take place in the cities of Chennai and Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, here are the latest quotes from the participating teams: Lucas Balthazar, Captain, Belgium “The last two World Cups didn’t go our way and that only fuels our hunger even more. We have a talented group and excellent coaches; everything is here for success. Now it’s about making the chemistry work, finding our rhythm, and turning potential into performance. Beyond results, we want to set the tone with our attitude, to lead by example, on and off the pitch.” Oriol Torras, Head Coach, Spain “Our objective for the World Cup is to continue building on the progress we have made in recent years. The European Championship title demonstrated the team’s quality and cohesion, while the bronze medal at the previous World Cup confirmed our consistency at the highest level. We approach this tournament with respect for our opponents and confidence in our preparation, fully committed to competing for the top positions.” Mateusz Nyckowiak, Captain, Austria “We are looking forward to the Junior World Cup with great excitement. As a young and ambitious team, we want to play with courage, give our very best on the pitch and show that we’re ready to compete with the best nations in the world. For us, it‘s all about growing together as a team and gaining valuable experience at the highest level.” Casper van der Veen, Captain, Netherlands “We are proud to play in orange and strive for maximum results during the Junior World Cup. We want to show unity and go through fire for each other.” PR Sreejesh, Head Coach, India “The Junior World Cup is the ultimate test of our preparation, mindset, and teamwork. Our focus is on playing fearless, fast, and disciplined hockey — the kind that reflects the legacy of Indian hockey. These boys have worked hard to earn this opportunity, and we’re confident they’ll make the country proud on the world stage.” Dan Neuhoff, Captain, South Africa “Our expectation is to compete, not just make up the numbers. We aim to represent our country with pride and go toe to toe with the best players and teams in the u21 age group.” Yannick Hug & Jens Flück, Co-Captains, Switzerland “We’re coming to India with passion, team spirit, and big ambitions. The Junior World Cup is our chance to prove Switzerland’s strength on the world stage and to exceed expectations.” Gaspard Denis, Captain, France “Our ambition for the Junior World Cup is to achieve the best possible result. We want to give everything we have, play our hockey the way we know best, and rely on our strong team spirit to go as far as we can.” Gus Nelson, Captain, New Zealand “I’m very excited to be heading to India with an epic group of boys and staff. I know that the group has worked hard to give ourselves the chance to do something special and bring home a medal.” Bahsin Ahmed, Captain, Egypt “We are so proud to represent our country on the international stage. We will give our best in every game that we play and we hope to see a lot of our fans in India!” MM Mehrab Hasan Samin, Captain, Bangladesh “This is our first appearance in a Junior World Cup. We want to play a competitive game. The team will be reaching Chennai earlier to acclimatize with the weather.” Seunghan Son, Captain, Korea “Forget what you knew about the Korean team. We have a singular goal—the champion’s title—and we are here to claim it. Underestimate us at your own risk; you’ll be watching us in the end.” Muhammad Danish Aiman Khairul Anuar, Captain, Malaysia “Together, we fight with heart, play with pride, and leave everything on the field” Ben Hasbach, Captain, Germany “We’re really excited for the World Cup in India. Being the defending champions gives us extra motivation, but we don’t feel any pressure from it. We just want to play our game, show what we’re capable of, and push our limits together as a team.” Yamato Kawahara, Captain, Japan “We fight with pride as Japanese, showing our true spirit and character. As long as we’re here, we aim for nothing less than the title — to give courage and inspiration to everyone who watches.” Felipe Richard, Captain, Chile “I think that, being a young team, one of our main challenges is adapting to this international rhythm, which is not the same as what we experience at the Pan American tournaments. But every time we step onto the field, we always end up playing good matches, so we are confident.” Grant Simpson, Captain, Canada “We are very excited and proud to represent the maple leaf at the Junior World Cup. We expect to compete in every game and challenge ourselves to perform against the best in the world. We’re excited to showcase our passion and ability on the world stage.” Liu Chao, Captain, China “We extend our warmest congratulations on the gathering of the world’s elite young talents at the Junior World Cup—may it be a grand celebration of the sport. May our Chinese athletes compete with honor, strive for excellence, and embody the true spirit and sportsmanship of China on the world stage.” Mohammad Hobais Bait Jandal, Head Coach, Oman “It’s a proud and historic moment for Oman to make its debut at the FIH Junior World Cup. Our young players are eager to compete, learn, and represent our country with pride and passion. This tournament will be a great platform for their growth and for the future of Omani hockey.” Tomas Ruiz, Captain, Argentina Expectations are very high, we are confident and eager to become champions. We have been preparing very well, both physically and technically. We played many friendly matches with teams from the local league and with the senior national team, which

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17 Nov, 2025 Following the successful experience at the previous FIH Hockey Junior World Cups in 2023, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) is proud to announce that this initiative will be reiterated this year. FIH has appointed two experts in this field—Marialoreto Gonzalez (Chile) and Nirmal Kumar (India)—as Safeguarding Officers for the Women’s and Men’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cups, respectively. The primary mission of the Safeguarding Officers is to create an environment of safety, well-being, and protection for all rising hockey stars who will showcase their talents at the highest global event for this age category. This will be achieved by providing athletes with access to preventive and educational resources. Of course, in addition to that, the Safeguarding Officers will be available to address any safeguarding issues that may arise during the tournaments, ensuring complete confidentiality. FIH President Tayyab Ikram, commenting on this renewed initiative, said: “Safeguarding has become one of the most important aspects of sports governance. Athletes are at the centre of everything we do. As an International Federation, it is our duty to implement all possible measures and frameworks to ensure our athletes develop in an environment where they feel safe enough to perform at their best. This commitment is especially crucial for young athletes. Through our initiative to appoint Safeguarding Officers for the upcoming FIH Hockey Junior World Cups, we are embracing our responsibility with full determination.” Marialoreto Gonzalez is a lawyer holding a Master’s degree in Law and Gender, specialising in sexual crimes, violence, and abuse. She is a member of the Panam Sports Safe Sports Commission and serves as the lawyer in charge of the Office for Respect Unit at the Chilean Olympic Committee and has extensive experience in abuse legislation. She has also worked as a Welfare Officer at various major sporting events and has contributed to establishing safe sport offices across multiple Pan American Olympic Committees, including the development of protocols and relevant legislation. As Head of Player Care department at FC Madras, Nirmal Kumar brings over six years of experience in managing and safeguarding young athletes. He has led the implementation of child protection policies, conducted awareness and training sessions, and overseen incident reporting protocols. His leadership has fostered a safe, respectful, and supportive environment within the academy. Commenting on their appointment, both Safeguarding Officers said: “We would like to express our sincere enthusiasm and deep appreciation for the opportunity to collaborate with FIH. We understand the critical importance of the Safeguarding Officers in ensuring a safe, positive, and supportive environment for all participants. We look forward to working closely with FIH and contributing to the success of these major events.” Source: FIH.hockey

03 Nov, 2025 The wait is nearly over. In just under one month, the world’s most promising rising stars in women’s hockey will gather in Chile for the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup, with the competition running from 1 to 13 December 2025 in the vibrant host city of Santiago. This edition marks a significant moment for global hockey. The competition comprises 24 for the very first time, with teams from across every continent, expanding the footprint of the women’s game and opening the door for emerging talent to shine on the sport’s biggest youth stage. From traditional powerhouses like Netherlands, Argentina and Korea to rising teams like Namibia, Malaysia and Uruguay, the tournament promises more matches, more stories, and more opportunities. Hosted in the city of Santiago, Chile, with immense experience in hosting the top level hockey tournaments, the women’s junior world cup is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike. With state-of-the-art venues, vibrant fan culture, and the electric atmosphere of Chilean hockey, this event will showcase the future of the game in its purest, most energetic form. Teams Pool A: Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands Pool B: Argentina, Belgium, Wales, Zimbabwe Pool C: Germany, India, Ireland, Namibia Pool D: Austria, China, England, South Africa Pool E: Australia, Canada, Scotland, Spain Pool F: Korea, New Zealand, United States, Uruguay The initial pool-stage matches will be played from 1-6 December, followed by secondary stages and the knock-out rounds from 7-13 December. As the countdown begins, one thing is certain: these young Rising Stars will take to the field and the global hockey community will get their first glimpse of the future icons of the sport. Netherlands are the defending champions from the 2023 edition, also held in Santiago, Chile. For full information on the Women’s Junior World Cup City of Santiago 2025, click here. Source: FIH.hockey

31 Oct, 2025 The Namibia women’s junior hockey team is gearing up for a historic moment — their debut at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup City of Santiago 2025. With excitement and determination running high, captain Azaylee Philander and coach Cedric Makati shared their thoughts ahead of the tournament. Setting realistic but bold targets For Namibia, the World Cup represents both a dream and a challenge. “We would very much like to come top three in our pool,” said captain Azaylee Philander. “We have a very strong pool with Germany, India and Ireland, so it would be great if we can come third and then take it from there.” Coach Cedric Makati echoed her optimism with a focus on immediate goals: “My first expectation is to actually win a game in the pool section. We know we have a tough pool, but it’s doable.” Overcoming logistical hurdles Both captain and coach acknowledged that team cohesion has been a key challenge in the lead-up to the event. “Not all of the teammates have been here at training,” Philander explained. “That’s one of our main challenges. But once we get to Chile and start our practice games, we’ll overcome it.” Makati echoed the same sentiment but remains confident in the team: “We have players in South Africa and Europe. The biggest challenge is making them play in cohesion as one team. But we will get there.” Respecting the competition Namibia finds itself in a tough group alongside India, Germany, and Ireland, but both leaders are approaching it with respect and confidence. “To India, Germany, and Ireland — we are so honoured to be playing against you,” said Philander. “Namibia is coming with our best.” Makati reinforced that sentiment: “We know you are training hard. We are doing the same. We are not going to stand back. Let’s give each other hard games and may the best team win.” Excitement for Chile This will be Namibia’s first-ever appearance in Chile, a milestone moment for the team. “Playing for your country comes with perks. Coming to Chile will be amazing. Santiago is the perfect place for a Junior World Cup,” said Philander. “For most of the girls, it’s their first big international tournament,” added Makati. “The first game against India will be tough, but we’ll take it stride by stride.” Message to the fans “To everyone watching — parents, sponsors, family — thank you for all your support. We wish to make you proud,” said Philander. “Namibia, thank you for your support,” Makati concluded. “The girls will step up their game. For the fans in Chile, come support us, you’ll see what Africa can produce.” The FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2025 begins in Santiago, Chile, where Namibia will look to make their presence felt on the global stage, one stride at a time. Source: FIH.hockey

29 Oct, 2025 The wait is nearly over. In just one month, the world’s most promising Rising Stars of men’s hockey will gather in the heart of south India for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025, taking place from 28 November to 10 December 2025 in Chennai and Madurai. This edition will make history as the first-ever FIH Junior Hockey World Cup to feature 24 teams, expanding the global reach of the sport and giving more nations than ever before, the chance to compete on hockey’s biggest youth stage. From traditional powerhouses like Argentina, India and Germany, to exciting debutants like Switzerland, Namibia and China, the expanded format promises more matches, more stories, and more opportunities for emerging talent to shine. Hosted in the cities of Chennai and Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India the tournament is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike. With state-of-the-art venues, vibrant fan culture, and the electric atmosphere of Indian hockey, this event will showcase the future of the game in its purest, most energetic form. Teams Pool A: Canada, Germany, Ireland, South Africa Pool B: Chile, India, Oman, Switzerland Pool C: Argentina, China, Japan, New Zealand Pool D: Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Namibia Pool E: Austria, England, Malaysia, Netherlands Pool F: Australia, Bangladesh, France, Korea The pool stage matches will be played from 28 November to 2 December, followed by knockout matches from 4 to 10 December. The FIH, together with Hockey India and the Government of Tamil Nadu, continues preparations to ensure every aspect, from athlete facilities to fan engagement, is world-class. The tournament will also mark a new step in FIH’s digital and broadcast evolution, bringing the action closer to fans worldwide through the revamped Watch.Hockey platform. As the countdown begins, one thing is certain: the next generation of Rising Stars will take the field and the global hockey family will get their first glimpse of the future hockey icons in Tamil Nadu! Germany are the defending champions from the 2023 edition, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For all information about the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025, click here. Source: FIH.hockey