Junior Hockey World Cup Draw Pits India Against Pakistan in Pool B

India is set to host the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup from November 28 to December 10, with matches taking place in Chennai and Madurai. The host nation finds itself in Pool B alongside Pakistan, Chile, and Switzerland, setting the stage for intense competition.

Intense moments from a previous hockey match.

The draw ceremony, held at the FIH headquarters, was a significant event as this year's tournament marks the first time 24 teams will participate, expanding the scope and competitiveness of the championship.

The composition of the other pools is as follows:

• Pool A: Germany, South Africa, Canada, and Ireland.
• 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.

The draw ceremony was graced by the presence of FIH president Tayyab Ikram, Hockey India (HI) secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, and Hockey India Director General RK Srivastava.

"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," FIH chief Ikram stated. He emphasized the importance of engaging youth from all nations in the sport.

Bhola Nath added to the sentiment, saying, "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."

Germany enters the tournament as the defending champions, having secured their seventh title by defeating France 2-1 in the 2023 final. Their performance in the upcoming World Cup will be closely watched as they aim to defend their title against a strong field of competitors.