India Overturns 2-Goal Deficit for Junior World Cup Bronze Glory
India stages epic comeback to beat Argentina 4-2 for FIH Junior World Cup bronze; Germany wins title.
India produced a sensational comeback to defeat Argentina 4-2 and claim the bronze medal at the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup in Chennai on Wednesday. After trailing by two goals, the Indian side mounted a spirited fightback with Ankit Pal, Manmeet Singh, Anmol Ekka, and Sharda Nand Tiwari scoring crucial goals from penalty corners and a penalty stroke.
Argentina dominated the first half, scoring through Nicolas Rodriguez in the 3rd minute and Santiago Fernandez in the 44th, controlling possession and testing India’s defense. India struggled early but gradually found their rhythm, creating multiple penalty corner opportunities before finally converting them in the final quarter.
Ankit Pal reduced the deficit in the 49th minute, followed by Manmeet Singh equalizing just four minutes later. With momentum on their side, Sharda Nand Tiwari scored from a penalty stroke in the 57th minute, and Anmol Ekka sealed the victory with a precise penalty corner in the 58th minute, completing a remarkable comeback.
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In the final, defending champions Germany reclaimed the title with a 3-2 shoot-out win over Spain after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time. Justus Warweg scored Germany’s field goal, while Nicolas Mustaros netted for Spain. Germany’s composure in the shoot-out secured their eighth Junior World Cup triumph.
Other notable outcomes saw Belgium defeat the Netherlands 4-3 in a thrilling shoot-out for fifth place, while France beat New Zealand 4-1 to finish seventh. Hugo Labouchere starred for Belgium with a hat-trick, and Tom Gaillard scored twice for France, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament. India’s bronze medal finish marks a significant improvement after missing the podium in the previous two editions, showcasing the team’s resilience and promise for the future of Indian hockey.
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