November 29, 2025 South Africa kept their Junior World Cup campaign alive with a hard-earned 2–1 victory over Ireland, a result that injects fresh momentum into the group after the disappointment of the opening match. Ireland entered the contest full of confidence after their win over Canada, and with their head coach, a former South African U21 mentor, adding another layer of intrigue to a pivotal Pool A fixture. South Africa knew a win was essential and started with real intent, creating the bulk of the opportunities throughout the first half. They forced four penalty corners before the break, moving the ball well and applying sustained pressure, but the finishing touch once again eluded them. A combination of misfires and strong Irish defending meant the sides reached halftime locked at 0–0, despite South Africa’s far greater threat. Early in the second half South Africa thought they had found the breakthrough when Jamie Seale controlled superbly and smashed the ball home. However, after referral the goal was overturned due to danger in the buildup, a frustrating moment that could easily have unsettled the group. Instead, it only sharpened their resolve. As the third quarter neared its close, South Africa finally received the reward their energy deserved. Reuben Sendzul won the ball high up the pitch, showed tremendous composure, and drilled a brilliant finish into the net to give South Africa the lead. But the joy was short-lived. Ireland hit back almost immediately, capitalising on a failed clearance and allowing McKee to fire home the equaliser. With the game finely poised, South Africa showed character and calmness when it mattered most. Litha Kraai produced a moment of class, slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Ross Montgomery, who delivered a cool, clinical finish to restore the lead and ultimately seal the win for the South Africans. It was a tense, fierce contest, but one in which South Africa created enough chances to fully deserve the three points. The 2–1 victory puts their campaign back on track and sets up a decisive final pool match against Canada. Source: SAHockey.co.za

28 Nov, 2025 The first day of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 was highlighted by a festival of goals in Madurai and Chennai, as well as a grandiose opening ceremony. Belgium’s attacking 12-1 victory over Namibia led the list of big wins on Day 1 that saw 16 of the 24 teams in action from Pool A, B, C and D. The remaining eight teams will begin their respective campaigns on Day 2 of the tournament. Here’s how the results panned out – studded with as many as four hat-tricks: Germany vs South Africa (Full-Time Score: 4-0) Germany began their title-defence with a characteristic bold performance against South Africa in Pool A at Madurai, registering a 4-0 victory. The victory was led by a brace from the ‘Player of the Match’ Justus Warweg, who scored the first goal of this Junior World Cup in the 19thminute with a field effort – deflecting the ball into the net, connecting a cross at the goal-mouth. After going into half-time leading 1-0, Germany came out to add a cushion in the 43rdminute off a penalty stroke, as Ben Hasbach made no mistake. Captain Paul Glander put the game further beyond the South Africans with a penalty-corner conversion a minute later to increase Germany’s lead to 3-0 at the end of third quarter. Warweg’s second field goal in the 56thminute put the lid on the game for a comfortable win for the Germans. Speaking after the game, Warweg said:“It was a tough game. They (South Africa) are great opponents. I think we have the team to defend the title.I am very proud (of my performance) and our first three points. I hope there are more to come.” Canada vs Ireland (Full-Time Score: 3-4) The second Pool A game of the day turned out to be a see-saw battle before Ireland held their nerves to edge out Canada 4-3. The Irish team had their skipper and striker Louis Rowe to thank for his twin strikes in the 13thand the 33rdminute, with the other two goals coming off the sticks of Gregory Williams (35th) and Milo Thompson (41st). Gurnoor Bhullar 26thminute strike kept Canada in the game, with Leighton de Souza giving Ireland a scare with two penalty-corner goals in 48thand the 53rdminute to make it 4-3 and putting the final seven minutes on a knife’s edge. But Ireland put up a valiant defence to defeat the Canadians. “I am happy to get the first goal, especially because we were under the cosh a little bit at the start,” said Rowe, analysing the game. Nice to get the first goal to start the tournament off. We probably got a bit complacent and let them back in, but we are happy to hang on to win and get three points.” Argentina vs Japan (Full-Time Score: 4-1) Two-time winners Argentina kicked off their campaign in Pool C on a winning note against Japan as they didn’t take time to get on the board, scoring in just the second minute off a penalty corner converted by Nicolas Rodriguez. Japan held firm for the next 20 minutes before Mateo Torrigiani added a cushion to take Argentina to half-time leading 2-0. After a goal-less third quarter, the South Americans increased their lead to 3-0 off the stick of Bruno Correa in the 51stminute. Japan cut the lead to 3-1 with a goal from Naru Kimura two minutes later, but Rodriguez’s second penalty-corner goal restored the three-goal margin with four minutes left to play. “It’s important to start with a win; we are very happy. Japan is a hard rival but we were confident. India is fantastic. The atmosphere is happy all the time,” said Argentina’s Matias Andreotti. Spain vs Egypt (Full-Time Score: 8-0) Last edition’s bronze medallists Spain humbled Egypt 8-0 to open proceedings in Pool D on a prolific note. The star of the big win for the Spaniards was Bruno Avila, who put up a show with his penalty-corner strikes to score the tournament’s first hat-trick. Besides Avila, Josep Martin was the other player who got his name on the score-sheet twice with his double. Albert Serrahima, Ton Moran and Andres Medina were the others to breach the Egyptian defence that looked hapless against Spain’s relentless incisive runs in the striking circle. “I am very happy and playing here (in India) is always a pleasure,” said Avila after the game. “All my goals came off PCs. I think the team is playing well and we are now focused on the next match. It’s just the first match, so (let’s) keep calm.” New Zealand vs China (Full-Time Score: 5-3) New Zealand’s Jonty Elmes began his Junior World Cup with a hat-trick to secure three points for his team with a 5-3 win over China. A penalty stroke in the 8thminute got the Black Sticks on the board as Elmes converted from the spot and then scored twice in the 25thminute to complete his hat-trick. New Zealand looked set for a big win, leading 5-0 at half-time as Sam Lints and Owen Brown added to Jonty’s hat-trick. But China improved their game in the last two quarters, scoring thrice off penalty corners. Wang Yubo scored two goals and Zhang Jialiang scored one in China’s comeback bid. But the New Zealanders thwarted all Chinese attacks in the last five minutes to take full points. Looking at his team’s performance after the match, NZ captain Gus Nelson said: “The first half was really good (for us), but the second half not that much. Great to be here in India with some awesome fans. I think we need a bit of urgency in setting up our press.” Belgium vs Namibia (Full-Time Score: 12-1) Belgium, who have never won the Junior Men’s World Cup, made their attacking intentions clear with a 12-1 romp of tournament debutants Namibia, for whom the only happy moment of the game was their first World Cup goal – scored by Mathew Lassen off a

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November 28, 2025 South Africa opened their FIH Junior World Cup campaign with a 4–0 defeat to defending champions Germany in Tamil Nadu, but the scoreline only tells part of the story after a spirited and disciplined display from the African champions. South Africa kicked off the tournament knowing the size of the task against the seven-time winners. The teams last met at this level in Malaysia two years ago, where South Africa produced a brilliant fight in a 5–3 defeat, and with this year’s competition expanded to 24 teams for the first time, every moment carried added significance. The opening quarter was encouraging from a South African perspective. Germany enjoyed the bulk of possession, as expected, but South Africa were composed, compact and resolute, refusing to allow many clear chances. In fact, the best opportunity of the quarter came from South Africa’s lone penalty corner, reminding the Europeans that they were in a contest. Germany eventually broke through with a moment of breathtaking quality. A rapid transition from back to front carved open the defence, ending with Justus Warweg producing a superb first-time deflection to make it 1–0. South Africa responded positively, and Brett Horn twice found space late in the half, firing one effort inches wide. The halftime break arrived with Germany leading narrowly, the South Africans having contained them impressively. Early in the second half the pressure told. A defensive tangle saw a stroke awarded, and although Johannes Schoeman got a touch to Ben Hasbach’s effort, he couldn’t keep it out. Germany struck again just 90 seconds later through captain Glander from a penalty corner after South Africa were unable to clear their lines, stretching the lead to 3–0. Still, South Africa went hunting for a goal, often threatening through the movement and intent of Litha Kraai and the dangerous Brett Horn. However, the final touch wasn’t there in Tamil Nadu; or it was shut down by strong goalkeeping from Ditzer. Germany sealed the result through Warweg, who reacted sharply to beat Schoeman for his second of the match. Despite the final score, South Africa showed promising patches of structure, bravery and attacking ambition against one of the world’s elite junior nations. With two more pool matches ahead in this historic expanded World Cup, they will take lessons and belief into the remainder of the tournament. They are back in action on Saturday at 10:00 taking on Ireland looking to bounce back with a big performance. You can watch the game exclusively live on Watch.Hockey Source: SAhockey.co.za

28 Nov, 2025 FIH President Tayyab Ikram arrived in Chennai to a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere as India proudly welcomes the world’s brightest Rising Stars. He expressed his deepest gratitude to the Government of Tamil Nadu and to Hockey India for their outstanding hospitality and exceptional arrangements, which have set the perfect stage for this global celebration of hockey. Speaking on the occasion, President Ikram said:  “Forty-eight teams from around the world have arrived across our host cities — Chennai, Madura and Santiago for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup. Together, they have already made history. This milestone is a reflection of the engagement initiative I introduced two years ago, designed to strengthen our global hockey community and empower the next generation. Today, I am proud to officially welcome the rising stars of the world.”   He encouraged the athletes to embrace more than just the competition: “Rising stars, while delivering your best performances, make sure you also celebrate this journey. The experiences you gain, the friendships you build, and the memories created here are just as meaningful as every result on the field.” President Ikram also expressed his gratitude to all National Associations: “My sincere thanks to all the National Associations for your tireless efforts in enabling your rising stars to be here. Your dedication is what makes global moments like this possible.” With excitement building in Chennai, Madurai, and Santiago, this global gathering marks another significant step in FIH’s mission to inspire, unite, and elevate the future of hockey.   As the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup begins today, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the State of Tamil Nadu, the cities of Chennai and Madurai, and Hockey India for organizing such a magnificent event. I also extend my appreciation to our commercial and broadcast partners, officials, and all the wonderful volunteers, without whom staging this World Cup would simply not be possible. Thanks also to all hockey fans—your support is truly rewarding. I wish you a great time! #RisingStars Source: FIH.hockey

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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