India's junior men's hockey team delivered a commanding performance to storm into the quarterfinals of the FIH Junior World Cup, defeating a spirited Switzerland 5-0 in a crucial Pool C encounter at the Madurai International Hockey Stadium on Tuesday night. The victory, built on clinical finishing and resolute defence, sets up a last-eight clash with European powerhouse Belgium.
First Quarter Blitz Sets the Tone
The match was effectively decided in a blistering first quarter where the Indian colts showcased their superior quality. Despite an early scare when Switzerland won a penalty corner, the Indian defence, marshalled well, held firm. The hosts soon turned defence into attack, opening the scoring through Manmeet Singh, who tapped in from close range after a goalmouth scramble set up by Dilraj Singh.
Manmeet doubled his tally and India's lead with a moment of sheer brilliance. Receiving a drilled low pass from Priyobarta Talem into the circle with his back to goal, the forward executed a stunning first-time sweep that flew past a helpless Swiss goalkeeper Timo Graf. The instinctive finish was a hallmark of the attacking philosophy promoted by senior team coach Craig Fulton.
Set-Piece Precision and Goalkeeping Heroics
India addressed a key area of concern by converting penalty corners with efficiency. Sharda Nand Tiwari stepped up to nail a powerful high drag-flick straight down the middle for the team's third goal, a direct conversion that would have pleased coach PR Sreejesh. Before halftime, Arshdeep Singh made it 4-0 with another exceptional finish, using strong wrist-work to score while his momentum was carrying him away from the goal.
The third quarter was goalless but featured a standout performance from Indian goalkeeper Princedeep Singh. Inspired by his idol and now-coach Sreejesh, the young custodian made several crucial saves, including a spectacular dive to his right to deny Switzerland from the penalty spot, preserving India's clean sheet.
Road to the Quarterfinals
Sharda Nand Tiwari completed the 5-0 rout in the final quarter with his second goal, another low, angular flick that beat Graf for pace. The win ensured India topped the standings across all groups in the preliminary stage. Their quarterfinal opponents, Belgium, secured their progression as one of the two best second-placed teams.
While pleased with the result, coach PR Sreejesh highlighted areas for improvement. "Happy with the result, but there are a lot of areas to improve. From the next match onwards, the real tournament is starting," he stated post-match. He emphasized the need for better conversion rate inside the attacking circle and reducing defensive errors that gifted opponents opportunities.
The quarterfinal clash between India and Belgium is scheduled for December 5 at 8:00 PM IST in Chennai. The other last-eight matches feature Spain vs New Zealand, France vs Germany, and Netherlands vs Argentina.
