Chennai, India – December 7, 2025 – India's quest for glory at the FIH Men's Junior World Cup came to a crashing halt as they suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat against defending champions Germany in the semi-final. The match, held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai, saw the dominant Germans showcase their prowess, leaving the home crowdDisappointed.
Germany's victory was built on a clinical performance, with goals from Lukas Kossel (14', 30'), Titus Wex (15'), Jonas von Gersum (40'), and Ben Hasbach (49'). India's sole response came from Anmol Ekka, who converted a penalty corner in the 51st minute.
The match began with India showing promise, but Germany quickly asserted their control. Goalkeeper Princedeep Singh made a crucial save early on, denying Ben Hasbach in the 8th minute. However, Germany's relentless pressure led to a penalty stroke in the 14th minute, which Lukas Kossel calmly converted. Just a minute later, Titus Wex deflected a cross from Kossel, doubling Germany's lead. Germany continued to dominate, securing another penalty corner just before halftime, with Kossel again finding the net.
The second half saw Germany maintain their dominance. India missed a golden opportunity to pull one back when Sourabh Anand Kushwaha fumbled in front of an open goal. Germany further extended their lead through Jonas von Gersum in the 40th minute and Ben Hasbach in the 49th minute. Anmol Ekka's late penalty corner conversion provided a glimmer of hope for India, but it was too little, too late.
Germany's coach praised his team's efficiency and control throughout the match. India's coach, P.R. Sreejesh, acknowledged Germany's superiority and stressed the need for his team to learn from the defeat. He had previously emphasized the importance of precision in the attacking circle, a lesson that went unheeded in the face of Germany's relentless pressure.
India will now face Argentina in the third-place playoff on December 10. Germany will take on Spain in the final. Spain defeated Argentina 2-1 in the first semi-final.
India had a successful run in the pool stage, scoring 29 goals and conceding none against Chile, Oman, and Switzerland. In the quarter-finals, they edged past Belgium 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. Germany also faced a tough quarter-final, requiring a shootout to overcome France after a 2-2 draw.
The defeat marks the end of India's hopes of replicating their 2016 Junior World Cup victory. They will aim to regroup and secure a bronze medal against Argentina. Germany, meanwhile, will be looking to add another title to their record-breaking tally.
