India delivered a commanding performance to defeat Switzerland 5–0 in a clash of previously unbeaten sides at the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup 2025 on Tuesday. The emphatic win at the Madurai International Hockey Stadium confirmed India as Pool B toppers with nine points from three matches and secured their place in the quarterfinals.
The home crowd erupted almost instantly as Manmeet Singh capitalised on a defensive error to open the scoring within the first two minutes. He doubled the lead soon after, producing a sharp deflection on the half turn from a quick, low pass by Priyobarta Talem. India tightened their grip when Sharda Nand Tiwari fired home a well-executed penalty corner, sending the Blue Colts into the second quarter with a comfortable advantage.
India continued to push forward with energetic runs along the baseline, attempting to break Switzerland’s defensive shape with long, lofted scoops. The strategy didn’t bear fruit, but the pressure remained relentless. Arshdeep extended the lead late in the second quarter with an improvised reverse hit, striking the ball with his back to the goal.
Switzerland emerged from halftime with renewed purpose, testing India’s defensive discipline for the first time in the match. Goalkeeper Princedeep Singh stood tall, producing a firm kick save before diving full stretch to steer the ball away with his stick. His standout moment came when he denied Yannick Hug from the penalty stroke line, preserving India’s clean sheet in spectacular fashion.
The final quarter grew increasingly physical, with Switzerland showing greater aggression as they chased a lifeline. India, though less fluent than earlier in the match, absorbed the pressure effectively. Any faint hopes of a Swiss comeback vanished when Sharda Nand converted his second penalty corner, driving the ball neatly into the bottom-left corner to complete the 5–0 rout.
The victory sets up a quarterfinal showdown with Belgium, which advanced as one of the best second-placed teams. India will enter the last-eight tie with confidence after three dominant group-stage performances.
Earlier in the day, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands sealed their own quarterfinal spots with convincing wins in their final league matches, setting the stage for an exciting knockout phase.
