Dec 4, 2025 In their second game of the tournament South Africa faced a slick English outfit eager to ignite their own campaign after drawing their opening match with China. It proved a far tougher assignment for the young South Africans who fought throughout but ultimately fell to a four one defeat. England came out with real intent and their pace and precision created a wave of early pressure. South Africa absorbed as much as they could but the breakthrough eventually arrived from a penalty corner that gave the English a deserved lead. South Africa responded with two early penalty corners of their own in the second quarter as they pushed hard for a way back into the contest. While the opportunities did not produce the equaliser the quarter was far more balanced as the South Africans settled into the tempo and restricted the European chances. The half closed with England holding a one goal advantage. The match stayed alive through the third quarter with South Africa working tirelessly to stay within reach, but England found a crucial second in the final minute of the period through Lottie Bingham which shifted the momentum once more. England added further goals in the final quarter through a penalty corner and a penalty stroke which widened the margin more than the general flow of the game suggested. South Africa kept competing and were rewarded late on when Ntsopa Mokoena reacted quickest to a rebound to pull one back. South Africa now turn their attention to their final pool match against China where they will look to finish as high up the group as possible. Source: SAHockey.co.za

Dec 4, 2025 South Africa held their nerve in a testing quarter-final of the 9–16 playoffs, overcoming a spirited Malaysian side 3–1 after a first half in which the Asian nation threatened repeatedly on the counterattack. It was a performance built on patience, resilience and moments of brilliance, particularly from goalkeeper Daniel Dillon, who delivered one of the standout displays of the tournament so far. South Africa dominated possession from the outset, controlling the tempo and dictating the patterns of play, but Malaysia’s counterattacks were razor sharp and carved out the better opportunities in the opening half. Dillon was required far more often than the South Africans would have liked, but each time he was called into action he responded superbly. His save of the half, a breathtaking one-on-one stop against Kairil after a turnover high up the field, kept the game level and lifted his team. South Africa were creating chances of their own, and their best move of the opening quarter saw Leruo Dithakhanyane slip through Reuben Sendzul, but the hit man was unable to apply the finishing touch as the game remained finely poised. Early in the second quarter South Africa finally earned their first penalty corner, and after a series of re-awards, Jaydon Brooker stepped up and unleashed an unstoppable drag flick to give the African champions a deserved lead. Dillon then produced a world-class double save to protect the advantage, and although South Africa thought they had doubled the margin just before the half, the umpire ruled dangerous play in the buildup. The score remained 1–0 at the break. The third quarter brought further opportunities from penalty corners, and once again Brooker delivered, rifling home another superb set-piece to stretch the lead to 2–0. But Malaysia were not out of it. Their pressure from a penalty corner finally paid off when Aquila Mat produced a deft deflection to beat Dillon and set up a tense final phase. South Africa responded with composure, continuing to push forward in search of the goal that would settle things. That moment arrived with three minutes remaining when Ross Montgomery converted a penalty corner to make it 3–1. South Africa even found the net again in the final minute, but the whistle had already gone and the goal could not stand. The 3–1 victory moves South Africa into the 9–12 bracket, keeping alive their pursuit of a top-10 finish. They will face either Ireland or Switzerland in Saturday’s crossover semifinal as the classification phase continues. Source: SAHockey.co.za

04 Dec, 2025 Day 3 of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup City of Santiago 2025 was defined by the supremacy of the Netherlands, who once again delivered an outstanding performance with an 8–0 win over Japan to underline their status as leading title contenders, with 18 goals scored and none conceded so far. The United States also maintained their strong form with a solid 4–0 victory against Korea, while Germany collected a second consecutive win by defeating India 3–1. The day’s biggest emotion came in the closing match, as hosts Chile ignited celebrations in the stands with a dramatic 1–0 victory over Malaysia that keeps them alive in Pool A ahead of a decisive clash with Japan on Friday. New Zealand and Uruguay produced the most entertaining draw of the day, a 3–3 result that leaves the battle in their pool wide open, while the programme had opened with Ireland’s 4–1 win over Namibia, in which the European side controlled proceedings from the start. Below, we take a detailed look at everything that unfolded on Day 3 in Santiago. Ireland vs Namibia (Full-Time Score: 4–1) Ireland took the initiative from the start on the synthetic surface of the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped at the National Stadium, generating six circle entries in the first quarter and opening the scoring in the 1st minute through Hollai Quinn. Namibia tried to hold a compact block, but Ireland extended their lead in the second quarter: Quinn struck again in the 16th minute and Milla Fulton added the 3–0 in the 18th minute, during a phase in which the Europeans put together two penalty corner sequences that kept the game inside the Namibian 23 metres.After half-time, Ireland maintained controlled build-up and reached 4–0 beyond the midway point of the third quarter, when Maia McCourt finished off another phase of high circulation. Namibia produced their best attacking spell in the final stages, earning two consecutive penalty corners and pulling one back in the 58th minute through Anthea Coetzee. In the closing minutes, Ireland managed their advantage with a compact structure inside their own 23 and limited Namibia’s circle entries through to the final whistle.Team captain Amy Handcock said, “We’re happy with our overall performance, we would have liked to not compete towards the end, but overall, we’re really happy.” India vs Germany (Full-Time Score: 1–3) Germany seized the initiative from the start, producing six circle entries in the first quarter and opening the scoring in the 4th minute with a penalty stroke converted by Lena Frerichs. India responded with two consecutive penalty corner attempts, but were unable to generate effective shots. In the second quarter, Germany extended their territorial dominance with twelve circle entries and another stroke opportunity in the 29th minute, which on this occasion was not converted. India tried to counter through long transitions, but struggled to sustain possession in the attacking third. After the break, Germany kept their high press and forced India to drop deep inside their own 23 by winning four consecutive penalty corners in the early stages of the third quarter. In the final phase, Germany widened the gap with a field goal from Annika Schönhoff and, a few minutes later, Martina Reisenegger made it 3–0 after another set-piece sequence. India reduced the deficit three minutes from time, when Hina Bano scored following their third penalty corner sequence in what was their most productive attacking spell of the match. Germany managed the closing minutes with a compact structure and controlled outlets, securing top spot in the pool with back-to-back victories. Player of the Match Johanna Hachenberg said, “I think our performance was good, but we can do it better because sometimes we had a rollercoaster game. We need to keep our level through the whole match, but we’re happy to win today.” New Zealand vs Uruguay (Full-Time Score: 3–3) New Zealand started the match with five circle entries in the first quarter, but it was Uruguay who opened the scoring in the 9th minute, as Valentina Luis finished off their first penalty corner sequence. The Oceania side levelled at 1–1 in the 14th minute through Greer Findlay from a set play. The pattern continued in the second quarter: Uruguay regained the lead in the 17th minute with a deflection by Sofía Trigo after two consecutive PCs and stretched the score to 3–1 in the 26th minute, when Melina Haidukowski converted again from a penalty corner. New Zealand reduced the deficit to 3–2 in the 20th minute thanks to a drag-flick from Niamh McKenzie, leaving a 3–2 half-time score after a phase marked by heavy activity from set pieces. On the restart, both teams registered just one circle entry each in the third quarter, with Uruguay protecting their lead through a mid-block and good control of transitions, while New Zealand looked for access from the flanks to regain presence in the final third. In the last quarter, New Zealand increased their territorial pressure, generated four consecutive circle entries and finally equalised 3–3 in the 58th minute when Georgie Shotter scored from a penalty corner. Uruguay closed the game by protecting their own 23 in the final seconds to secure the point and second place in Pool F. Uruguay’s Player of the Match, Silvina Bonaudi, said, “It was a very tough match, we were ahead for most of the game and the end was very tight. The draw leaves us with a good overall balance and now we are waiting for the United States result to see where we finish in the pool.” Korea vs United States (Full-Time Score: 0–4) The United States imposed themselves from the very beginning, recording ten circle entries in the first quarter and applying constant pressure on the Korean defence. The opening goal arrived in the 10th minute, when Mary Adams converted from a penalty corner to make it 1–0. In the second quarter, Andrea Bradley’s team kept their territorial control, added six more circle entries and extended the lead to 2–0 in

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03 Dec, 2025 Day 2 of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup City of Santiago 2025 had Argentina as its standout team, opening their campaign with a commanding 13–0 win over Zimbabwe, driven by a relentless attacking volume, a clinical penalty corner unit and hat-tricks from Chiara Ambrosini and Lourdes Pisthon, one of the day’s key performers for her influence inside the circle and constant presence in decisive actions. Australia also delivered a strong statement with their 6–1 win over Canada, while South Africa and Belgium began their campaigns with solid victories against Austria and Wales. England and China shared the day’s only draw, a tightly contested 2–2, and Spain closed the programme with a controlled 2–0 win over Scotland, maintaining a disciplined defensive shape without conceding any penalty corners. Below, we take a detailed look at everything that unfolded on Day 2 in Santiago. South Africa vs Austria (Full-Time Score: 4–1) South Africa opened the day in the Chilean capital with sustained rhythm in the first quarter, producing five circle entries and taking the lead in the 10th minute through a field goal by Leah du Plessis. Austria responded in the second quarter with increased presence in the attacking half, finding an equaliser via a penalty corner converted by Katharina Proksch in the 20th minute. Before half-time, South Africa regained momentum and went ahead again with a field goal from Ntsopa Mokoena in the 17th minute after a deep passing sequence. After the restart, South Africa adjusted their structure and extended their lead early in the third quarter with a penalty corner finished by du Plessis in the 41st minute, managing possession and territorial control during that phase. Austria reduced their circle entries in the second half and were unable to sustain offensive continuity against South Africa’s pressure. In the final minutes, South Africa closed the match with another field goal from Mokoena in the 53rd minute, keeping a compact block and managing transitions to secure the 4–1 win. Team captain Ane Janse said, “I’m very proud of the team, it was a good start to our tournament and important to secure the three points. The key was building as a team, making the connections, and getting the ball into the goal box.” England vs China (Full-Time Score: 2–2) England began the match on the synthetic surface of the National Stadium with a defined attacking structure, generating seven circle entries in the first quarter and taking the lead in the 13th minute through a field goal by Evie Grindal after a turnover in the high zone. China reacted quickly in the same phase, levelling 1–1 in the 11th minute through Hao Guoting, redirecting a sequence initiated from a penalty corner. In the second quarter, China increased their presence in the attacking third, earning five consecutive PCs between the 24th and 28th minutes, while England maintained their defensive organisation despite a yellow card to Sienna Dunn in the 17th minute. After half-time, China continued to impose attacking volume and recorded six circle entries early in the third quarter, going ahead 2–1 with a field goal from Zou Lizhe in the 35th minute after a prolonged sequence of set pieces that created gaps in the English defence. England reorganised their controlled build-up in the following phase, while China briefly lost intensity after a green card shown to Jing Keqing in the 36th minute. In the final quarter, England regained territorial balance and equalised 2–2 through a penalty corner finished by Biba Mills in the 48th minute, converting a rebound inside the circle. China added eight more entries in the last phase, but the English defence held firm to preserve the draw. Australia vs Canada (Full-Time Score: 6–1) Early in the afternoon in Santiago, Australia imposed their structure from the start on the synthetic turf, generating four circle entries in the first quarter and opening the scoring in the 5th minute with a field goal by Josie Lawton. Their attacking rhythm continued with a second goal in the 14th minute, finished by Camryn Mathison after a deep build-up down the left side. In the second quarter, Australia widened their territorial control, accumulated seven penalty corners and extended the lead with two consecutive goals: a field goal from Makayla Jones in the 15th minute and another from Mihaylia Howell in the 24th. Canada attempted to adjust their controlled exit under Australia’s pressure but ended the half without circle entries. After the break, Canada found their only goal through a penalty corner executed by Kenzie Girgis in the 41st minute, while Australia maintained initiative and restored the margin with a field goal from Jamie-lee Surha in the 33rd minute. In the final phase, Australia generated eleven more circle entries and closed the match with Jones’s second goal in the 59th minute, sustaining their defensive shape inside the 23 and managing transitions to confirm the 6–1 result. Player of the Match Mihaylia Howell said, “We gave a really good game, still building our connections and looking forward to improving for the next match. It was a strong start and important to get the win against a quality Canada side.” Belgium vs Wales (Full-Time Score: 3–1) In the fourth match of the day, Belgium asserted control from the start on the synthetic field of the Hockey Turf Sports Centre, generating ten circle entries in the first quarter and applying constant pressure on the Welsh defence. Their superiority in set pieces translated into the opening goal with a penalty corner converted by Agathe Favart in the 7th minute, while sustained circulation in the attacking third kept Wales deep. Before the break, Belgium doubled their lead through Alexi Van Remortel in the 18th minute, consolidating a 2–0 advantage built through possession and occupation of the attacking 23. After half-time, Wales adjusted their structure and reduced the deficit with a penalty corner finished by Amy Cradden in the 43rd minute, producing their strongest offensive phase of the match. Belgium responded by managing the scoreboard with a compact

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02 Dec, 2025 The pool stage at theFIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025concluded on Day 5 – confirming the eight quarter-finalists. Six pool toppers: Germany, India, Argentina, Spain, Netherlands, France and two best second-placed teams: New Zealand and Belgium entered the last-eight stage, which will be played on 5 December. Here’s how the action unfolded on Tuesday in Madurai and Chennai. Spain vs Namibia (Full-Time Score: 13-0) The first match on Day 5 unfolded on expected lines, with Spain blanking Namibia 13-0 in Madurai to take their unbeaten run to three matches and secure a spot in the quarter-finals by virtue of assuring themselves a top-place finish in Pool D. The result ended Namibia’s thin quarter-final hopes. They finished third with three points. Bruno Avila’s hat-trick (four goals) led Spain’s goal spree, whereas Andres Medina and Josep Martin added a brace each. Albert Serrahima, Nicolas Mustaros, Ton Moran, Aleix Bozal and Pere Amat completed the rout. “I think that this match was really, really important because it’s going to matter for the quarterfinals (qualification). I think we played very well as we scored a lot of goals,” said Spain captain Pablo Roman. “We had a lot of circle penetrations and I think that is an important thing as we enter the quarter-finals in the best way possible. Now we have to go to Chennai after a rest day and prepare for the quarters as best as we can.” Egypt vs Belgium (Full-Time Score: 0-10) Belgium did the best they could, which was scoring big, and humbled Egypt 10-0 in the last match of Pool D. However, their six points from two wins in three matches were good only for a second place in the pool, while Spain secured the top spot for direct qualification. The result put Belgium on the waiting list as only two best second-placed teams among the six groups will enter the quarter-finals. The defeat was Egypt’s third in a row. Belgium’s attacking prowess showcased not just in the 10 goals they scored, but also in the 19 penalty corners they earned. But they could convert only four of those, which would disappoint them. Lucas Balthazar scored off two of those penalty corners, while Benjamin Thiery and Hugo Labouchere converted one each. But leading the charts for Belgium was Maximilian Langer, who finished with a hat-trick. Jean Cloetens, Marin van Heel and Mathias Francois also got their names on the scoring sheet. To get an extra man in the attack for more goals while targeting a big margin of victory, Belgium came up with an adventurous move to play without a goalkeeper after the first quarter itself. But it didn’t pay off in the manner they would have liked. “We created a lot of chances and showed the perfect mentality to play this game. So, I am really proud of my guys. But I think we could have scored way more goals,” Belgium captain Balthazar analysed. “The last game against Spain didn’t go as we wanted, but we bounced back today.” Chile vs Oman (Full-Time Score: 2-0) The inconsequential rain-hit Pool B game at Chennai’s Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium saw Chile restoring some pride as they ended their pool engagements on a winning note against Oman, who lost all three matches to finish last. Chile ended at the third position. Both of Chile’s goals came off penalty corners, with Felipe Duisberg striking first in the 10thminute. Oman did well to hold Chile’s attack thereafter, as the game didn’t see any goals until the final quarter when Tomas Taborga extended Chile’s lead in the 47thminute. “It was a tough match. The pitch had too much water (because of rain) and it was difficult to pass the ball. But I think we did a great job. We knew this match would be difficult due to weather conditions and we had trained accordingly, using high balls (aerials),” said Chile captain Felipe Richard. Netherlands vs Austria (Full-Time Score: 11-0) The Netherlands helped themselves to a comprehensive 11-0 win over Austria in Madurai to round off their pool fixtures and bag direct qualification to the last-eight stage as Pool E toppers with nine points from three wins in three matches. Austria, who failed to win even a single match, finished last in the pool and will now contest in the classification games. In-form Dutch skipper Casper van der Veen led the goal-fest with a hat-trick and Finn van Bijnen added two goals. The other six strikes came off the sticks of Casper Hafkamp, Joppe Wolbert, Thies Bakker, Jens de Vuijst, Pepijn van der Valk and Jan van’t Land. “We are very happy as we won three times in the group stage. Now we have to step our level up a little bit more and see what we can do in the quarterfinals…The focus is on performing well and playing better than the game before,” Netherlands’ captain Casper van der Veen shared his thoughts after the match. France vs Bangladesh (Full-Time Score: 3-2) France, who had handed Australia an 8-3 drubbing, were given a stiff challenge by a spirited Bangladesh team before the last year’s finalists managed to hang on to a 3-2 win to top Pool F with their third win and entered the quarter-finals. Bangladesh, with just one point from three matches, finished third. France were awarded a penalty stroke in the seventh minute, and Tom Gaillard beat the Bangladesh goalkeeper to give his team a 1-0 lead. Putting up tough resistance thereafter, Bangladesh found the equaliser in the 28thminute through Mohammad Abdullah to take the game to half-time tied at 1-1. But France rediscovered their touch after the break, scoring through Gabin Lorrazuri in the 32ndminute and James Liddiard in the 38thto take a 3-1 lead. Bangladesh’s resilience paid off in the 55thminute, when they earned a penalty corner and their star drag-flicker Amirul Islam scored off it to cut the lead to 3-2. But the French defence held firm in the closing minutes to secure

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