After the quarterfinal match against Belgium finished in a tense 2-2 draw in regulation time, the fate of India’s semi-final hopes rested squarely on the penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh rose to the occasion, delivering a performance likened to his mentor, PR Sreejesh. He made a couple of spectacular, crucial saves—including a dramatic denial of Belgium’s last attempt with a full-stretched dive—to stop the opposition from taking the lead. Coupled with clutch conversions from the Indian strikers, Deep Singh’s commanding presence in the net and his sensational stops under immense pressure were the decisive factor, as India secured the thrilling shootout victory 4-3 and punched their ticket to the FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup semi-finals.
Unbeaten So Far — India’s Flawless Pool Stage
India entered the knockout stage unbeaten, topping Pool B with a perfect record. Across their three group matches they smashed Chile 7–0, annihilated Oman 17–0 and outplayed Switzerland 5–0 in their final pool match at Madurai, scoring 29 goals and conceding none.
Their dominance raised expectations — but the quarter-final proved a stern test of character, not just skill.
Quarter-Final Drama — From Dominance to Drama
Belgium drew first blood early in the match, with a backhand strike from a tight angle inside the circle. The hosts kept pressing and equalised through skipper Rohit Ekka in the 44th minute, and just three minutes later Shardanand Tiwari nudged India ahead.
Yet Belgium refused to relent — they struck back in the final minute of regulation to send the match into a shoot-out. Tension mounted as fans held their breath.
In the shoot-out, India’s goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh delivered under pressure, pulling off a couple of spectacular saves that proved decisive. With composure and calm conversions from the strikers, India clinched the shoot-out 4–3 and sealed their semi-final berth.
What’s Next — Semi-Final Clash Awaits
With this win, India have advanced to the penultimate stage of the Junior World Cup. Their next challenge will come in the semi-final — scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2025 — where they will face a formidable opponent among the other quarter-final winners.
The semi-final stage promises to test the Colts’ mettle even more — but today’s victory showed they have resilience, skill, and a champion’s temperament.
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