India's Junior Hockey Team Prepares for FIH Men's Junior World Cup 2025

As the FIH Men's Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 approaches, India's Junior Hockey Team coach PR Sreejesh shares insights on the team's preparation and the challenges ahead. With a new format featuring 24 teams, Sreejesh emphasizes the importance of each match in securing a spot in the Quarterfinals. The team aims to build on past performances and navigate a competitive Pool B that includes Pakistan, Chile, and Switzerland. Discover more about their strategies and expectations for this prestigious tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 1, 2025, 02:01 IST

Insights from Coach PR Sreejesh on Upcoming Tournament

On June 30, in Bengaluru, PR Sreejesh, the coach of the India Junior Hockey Team, expressed his views regarding the recently unveiled Pools for the forthcoming FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, scheduled for 2025.

“Our Pool B poses a significant challenge, featuring teams like Pakistan, Chile, and Switzerland. The match against Pakistan is expected to be particularly thrilling, but we believe the tournament will truly begin at the Quarterfinal stage. Hence, we will approach each match methodically, aiming to accumulate as many points as possible to secure a favorable position in the Quarterfinals,” he stated.

Sreejesh also shared his strategies for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025, highlighting the tournament's new expanded format. “This edition marks the first time the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup will include 24 teams, and we are adjusting our preparations accordingly. Competing in this new structure will be an exhilarating experience,” he remarked.

The 14th edition of the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup has indeed expanded to feature 24 teams vying for the prestigious title, an increase from the previous 16 teams. Historically, the tournament began with 12 teams and transitioned to 16 teams starting from the 2001 edition.

In the revamped format for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025, teams will be organized into six pools (A-F), each containing four teams. Every team will compete against the others in their pool, earning points based on match outcomes. Teams will be ranked within their pools according to the points accumulated, leading to Crossover Matches where third and fourth place teams will compete to finalize their rankings.

The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Quarterfinals, which will follow a knockout format leading to the Semifinals and the Final.

Teams that are eliminated in the Quarterfinals will engage in classification matches to determine their final rankings (5-8), while those losing in the Crossover Matches will also play classification matches for their rankings (9-16). Teams finishing last in their pools will compete in classification matches to establish their final rankings (17-24).

In the previous edition of the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup held in 2023, India finished fourth, missing out on a podium finish. Their best performances were in 2001 and 2016 when they clinched the Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup titles. Germany holds the record for the most titles in the Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup, having won seven times and is the reigning champion after their victory in 2023.