Chennai Comeback: How India's Junior Hockey Team Scripted Sensational Bronze Win

Ankit Pal (49’), Manmeet Singh (52’), Shardanand Tiwari (57’), and Anmol Ekka (58’) scored for India after Nicolas Rodriguez (3’) and Santiago Fernandez (44’) had given the visitors the lead.

This is the first time that India has won the bronze medal after winning two gold medals (2001, 2016) and a silver (1997) previously, and faced heartbreak when the team missed the bronze medal in 2005, losing to Spain in a penalty stroke in the third-place playoff.

On Wednesday, India began the game on the front foot, looking to make inroads against the Argentina defence. However, it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play with Nicolas Rodriguez (3’) converting his penalty stroke. The hosts responded strongly after the early goal, looking for an instant response. India nearly found an opening towards the end of the first quarter, but they couldn’t make the most of it.

It was an encouraging start for India in the second quarter, picking up from where they left off in the first. They began to grow into the game and created more notable chances, putting pressure on the Argentine defence that stayed compact on most occasions. Dilraj Singh had a shot on target, while the hosts created a few half-chances with eight circle penetrations in the first half, continuing to dominate possession in search of the equaliser. However, Argentina held firm to close out the first half with a 1-0 advantage.

India got the ball rolling, earning a few penalty corners in the early exchanges of the third quarter. They remained relentless on the attack, asking questions of the Argentine defence that sat back.

The visitors looked to play on the counterattack and did have their moments, but Princedeep Singh kept India in the game with a brilliant double save. Argentina eventually doubled their lead with Santiago Fernandez (44’) slotting his effort into the back of the net towards the end of the third quarter.

The hosts continued to push forward in search of their opening goal and managed to get a Penalty Corner with around ten minutes to go. Anmol Ekka’s expertly executed dragflick allowed Ankit Pal (49’) to deflect it past the Argentine keeper, pulling a goal back for India. With momentum on their side, India executed a similar routine in another Penalty Corner two minutes later with Manmeet Singh (52’) profiting from Anmol Ekka’s setup, bringing India back on level terms.

India then received a penalty stroke, and Shardanand Tiwari (57’) made no mistake, putting India in front with less than three minutes to go. In search of their third goal, Argentina opted to play without a goalkeeper. They did have an opportunity from a Penalty Corner, but the Indian defence stayed resilient.

The hosts then put the result beyond all doubt after Anmol Ekka (58’) turned from provider to goal scorer, converting from a Penalty Corner. With four goals in eleven minutes, India completed a sensational comeback to secure the bronze medal at the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025.

Following this historic win, Hockey India announced INR 5 lakh each to players and INR 2.5 lakh to the support staff.

- IANS