On Thursday, the final day of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 rolled out a slate of classification matches in Chennai and Madurai, giving the teams that missed the quarter‑finals a chance to fight for the best possible finish. The 17‑24 bracket offered a bonus – the top team would earn the Challenger Trophy, a new prize announced by FIH President Tayyab Ikram.
Namibia vs. Austria – 2:2, shootout 2:1
The opening 17‑24 match produced the first shootout of the tournament. The score remained level at 2‑2 when the match went to kicks. Namibia’s John‑Paul Britz found the net from a penalty corner early in the second half, but Austria answered almost immediately. The game swung back and forth, with both sides adding two goals each in the second quarter before the final quarter finished goalless. Namibia’s four attempts in the shootout missed, while Austria’s Benedikt Meisel and Andor Losonci converted, tipping the tie in Austria’s favour. “I had to keep the ball outside my goal. I specialise in shootouts. I don’t know what else to say. I am really happy about it,” Austria’s goalkeeper Brietenecker told reporters after the win, adding that the team was eager for a Challenger Trophy run.
Bangladesh vs. Oman – 13:0
Bangladesh delivered a historic blowout in Madurai, ending the match with a 13‑goal advantage. Penalty‑corner specialist Amirul Islam netted five of those goals, while Rakibul Hasan added a hat‑trick of open‑play strikes. Oman’s defence could not contain the torrent, giving up five brace‑scoring opportunities from Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Saju, and Obidul Joy. Coach Siegfried Aikman praised the squad’s progress, noting the experience from playing in a tougher pool would help them improve further. “We were in a tough pool, but that gave us an opportunity to play at a level that we have never played at,” he said.
England vs. Chile – 3:1
England, also in the 9‑16 classification, opened their campaign with a 3‑1 win over Chile at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium. The hosts took an early lead, with Kaden Draysey and Max Anderson scoring before the 19th minute. Chile answered with Javier Vargas’s 23rd‑minute strike, but four minutes later Jonny Sturch‑Hibbitt restored a two‑goal cushion for England. The remainder of the match was quiet, with neither side adding to the scoreline. England’s Cole Pidcock felt confident, saying the team was prepared to win every subsequent game.
Korea vs. Egypt – 6:3
In a dominant performance, Korea came back from a slow first half to beat Egypt 6‑3 in Madurai. Minhyeok Lee was in fine form, scoring four goals—three from penalty corners and one penalty stroke—to secure the win. Korea opened the game 3‑1 by the half‑time whistle, with JeongSeob Song and Seowon Park supplementing the tally. Lee added two more in the third quarter, and the fourth came in the 52nd minute, putting Korea firmly ahead. Egyptian striker Mohamed Ghanem got a late consolation goal, but it was too little, too late. Korea’s captain Seunghan Son remarked that the team had built the victory on a solid start and had enjoyed a productive final half.
South Africa vs. Malaysia – 3:1
South Africa edged Malaysia 3‑1 in Chennai thanks to a double penalty‑corner brace from Jaydon Brooker. After a goalless first quarter, Brooker scored the opener in the 18th minute. He added a second six minutes into the third quarter, giving the Bafana Bafana a 2‑0 lead. Malaysia replied with a 48th‑minute goal from Aqil Mat, cutting the deficit to 2‑1. The final goal came from Ross Montgomery in the last two minutes, securing the win. South Africa’s Ozair Pillai said the team had treated the match as a “quarter‑final” of a new knockout stage and was determined to march on for the Challenger Trophy.
China vs. Canada – 3:2
China staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Canada 3‑2. Canada had taken a 2‑0 advantage through Robin Thind’s early goals, but Wang Yubo’s penalty‑corner prowess erased the deficit: he scored in the 25th minute and again in the 56th to bring the score level, 2‑2. With the Canadian defence faltering, Ning Dongjun seized a late penalty corner to deliver the winner in the 60th minute. Yubo, named Player of the Match, thanked his teammates for the coordination that allowed them to prevail.
Ireland vs. Switzerland – 5:2
The Irish displayed resilience at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, beating Switzerland 5‑2. Following a 1‑1 draw at halftime that came from a Samuel Dale goal for Ireland and a Louis Thijs equaliser for Switzerland, Ireland surged ahead in the third quarter. Gregory Williams, who was among the tournament’s top scorers, hit two penalty‑corner goals, while Rex Dunlop also converted one, pushing Ireland to a 4‑1 lead. The Swisser Jens Fluck pulled one back in the last ten minutes, but Ireland sealed the contest with a 60th‑minute penalty‑corner success by Louis Rowe.
Australia vs. Japan – 1:0
Australia’s 9‑16 battle against a determined Japanese side ended 1‑0, with the lone goal coming from Ian Grobbelaar’s 56‑minute penalty corner. Both teams struggled to convert early opportunities, but Australia held on for the slim victory. The go‑all‑but‑first nature of the match was noted by the hosts, who praised their defensive solidity.
These results reshaped the table for the remainder of the tournament, with teams pushing to capture the coveted Challenger Trophy and finish strong in the Junior World Cup.
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