Berlin, June 24, 2025 – The Indian Junior Men's Hockey team faced a tough defeat against Spain in their final pool stage match at the 4 Nations Tournament, concluding with a 1-5 scoreline. The match, held on Tuesday in Berlin, saw Spain dominate early on, leaving India struggling to recover.
Spain came out strong, quickly establishing a lead with two goals in the opening minutes. Pere Amat converted a penalty corner in the 2nd minute, followed swiftly by Santi Martin, who scored a field goal in the 3rd minute, pushing Spain to a 2-0 advantage. India found themselves under pressure, needing to regroup quickly to counter Spain's aggressive start.
The second quarter saw a more balanced contest, with both teams displaying end-to-end hockey. India intensified their efforts to find a breakthrough, while Spain aimed to extend their lead further. Despite promising moments for both sides, neither team managed to convert their chances, leaving the score unchanged at 2-0 in favor of Spain as they headed into halftime.
Spain regained control in the third quarter, capitalizing on defensive lapses from the Indian side. Pere Amat scored his second goal of the match in the 42nd minute, converting another penalty corner and increasing Spain's lead. Just a minute later, Josep Martin added to India's woes with a field goal, making it 4-0. India struggled to contain Spain's attacking momentum, finding it difficult to break through their solid defense.
In the final quarter, Spain continued their dominance, extending their lead with a fifth goal. Mario Mena executed a penalty corner in the 51st minute, further cementing Spain's control of the match. However, India responded almost immediately, with Araijeet Singh Hundal scoring a field goal in the 52nd minute, reducing the deficit and preventing a clean sheet. Despite this effort, the score remained 5-1 at the final whistle.
With this result, India completed their pool stage matches in the 4 Nations Tournament. Earlier in the tournament, the Indian team faced Germany and Australia, experiencing mixed results. The tournament follows a round-robin format, with India, Germany, Australia, and Spain each playing each other once. The top two teams from the pool stage will advance to the final, while the remaining two teams will compete in a third/fourth-place playoff.
India's participation in the 4 Nations Tournament is crucial preparation for the upcoming FIH Junior Men's Hockey World Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. This tournament allows the team to assess their strengths, test new strategies, and identify areas needing improvement before the World Cup. Captain Araijeet Singh Hundal and Vice-Captain Amir Ali have emphasized the importance of this event in fine-tuning their preparations for the global stage.
The Indian squad for the 4 Nations Tournament includes goalkeepers Bikramjit Singh and Vivek Lakra, defenders Amir Ali, Talem Priyobarta, Shardanand Tiwari, Sunil P B, Anmol Ekka, Rohit, Ravneet Singh, and Sukhvinder. The midfield comprises Ankit Pal, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Rohit Kullu, Thockchom Kingson Singh, Thounaojam Ingalemba Luwang, Adrohit Ekka, and Jeetpal. The forward line features Gurjot Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Dilraj Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, and Ajeet Yadav.
