In a pulsating quarterfinal at the Junior World Cup in Chennai, the hosts — Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team — edged past Belgium Junior Men’s Hockey Team 2–2 (4–3 in shootout), booking a semifinal berth and sending the Belgian side packing.
A Rollercoaster 60 Minutes
Belgium struck first — with a field goal from Gaspard Cornez-Massant in the 13th minute — catching India off guard and unsettling their early rhythm. For much of the first half, Belgium’s structured defence frustrated Indian forays into the circle.
But India, undeterred and buoyed by home support, gradually regained composure. The deadlock was broken in the 45th minute when skipper Rohit unleashed a powerful drag-flick off a penalty corner to level the score. Just three minutes later, a well-struck penalty corner from Sharda Nand Tiwari put India in the lead for the first time — 2–1.
However, Belgium refused to quit. In the 59th minute, Nathan Rogge found the net to draw level, forcing a shootout. The final minute’s strike turned the stadium’s joy into nerves, as tension soared heading into tiebreakers.
Shootout Drama — and a New Hero
As the shooters stepped up under weighty pressure, India’s young custodian Princedeep Singh rose to the occasion. In a shootout that demanded calm and precision, he delivered — making several brilliant saves, including a full-stretched dive in the final moments to deny Belgium victory.
Sharda Nand Tiwari stabilised India’s efforts with three composed conversions from penalty strokes, while Ankit Pal slotted home the decisive stroke to seal a 4–3 win.
At the final whistle, the relief and jubilation in the stands were palpable — a wild, ecstatic celebration worth the rollercoaster of emotions.
What It Means for India
This hard-fought win keeps alive India’s dreams at the Junior World Cup. Not only did they display resilience under pressure, but they also proved their ability to bounce back after conceding early. The victory also marked a coming-of-age night for Princedeep Singh — drawing inevitable comparisons to India’s senior team legend (since his jersey number is the same as PR Sreejesh)
With this win, India move into the semifinals, set to face the formidable Germany Junior Men’s Hockey Team — a challenge of a different magnitude.
A Night to Remember
Friday’s match will be remembered for its pace, its emotional swings, and for producing a new young hero between the sticks. For India, this is more than just progression to the semis — it’s a statement of intent. The Juniors have signalled they can rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest.
