India to Host Junior Hockey World Cup; Pool B Showdown Set with Pakistan

India is gearing up to host the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup from November 28 to December 10, with matches scheduled in Chennai and Madurai. The Indian team finds itself in Pool B, alongside rivals Pakistan, as well as Chile and Switzerland.

Hockey (AP Photo)

The draw ceremony, a landmark event held at the FIH headquarters, signifies the expansion of the tournament to include 24 teams for the first time.

The pool compositions are as follows:

• Pool A: Germany, South Africa, Canada, and Ireland
• Pool B: India, Pakistan, Chile, and Switzerland
• Pool C: Argentina, New Zealand, Japan, and China
• Pool D: Spain, Belgium, Egypt, and Namibia
• Pool E: Netherlands, Malaysia, England, and Austria
• Pool F: France, Australia, Korea, and Bangladesh

FIH President Tayyab Ikram, Hockey India (HI) Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh, and Hockey India Director General RK Srivastava were present at the draw ceremony.

Ikram stated, "It is a great pleasure for me to be here ahead of a milestone moment as we start the journey towards the first ever 24-team FIH Junior Hockey World Cup! It is a part of the FIH strategy to empower and engage the youth from all nations, including the emerging nations, and this event will be the first step towards doing that."

Bhola Nath added, "Today marks a landmark moment for the world of hockey as we witness the pool draw for the inaugural FIH Junior Men's Hockey World Cup, featuring 24 nations."

The tournament will not only showcase the future stars of hockey but also contribute to the development of hockey infrastructure in India. A new state-of-the-art hockey stadium will be introduced in the city of Madurai.

Germany enters the tournament as the defending champions, having secured their seventh title by defeating France 2-1 in the 2023 final.