Chennai: India claimed the bronze medal at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025 after a remarkable 4-2 turnaround against Argentina at Chennai’s Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Wednesday.
The junior men’s side delivered an extraordinary late surge, finding the net four times in just eleven minutes to finish third.
Argentina had pulled ahead through early strikes from Nicolas Rodriguez (3’) and Santiago Fernandez (44’). India, however, responded with a stunning counterattack, as Ankit Pal (49’), Manmeet Singh (52’), Shardanand Tiwari (57’), and Anmol Ekka (58’) scored in quick succession to overturn the deficit.
The result marks India’s first bronze medal in the tournament’s history. Before this, the team had secured two titles – in 2001 and 2016 – and finished runners-up in 1997. They narrowly missed a third-place finish in 2005 after a penalty shootout loss to Spain.
In recognition of the team’s achievement, Hockey India declared a cash award of Rs5 lakh for each player and Rs2.5 lakh for each member of the support staff.
In the championship match, Germany clinched their eighth Junior World Cup crown, edging out Spain 3-2 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation time at the same venue.
