India’s Junior hockey team demonstrated a remarkable blend of skill and tactical discipline during their opening match at the 2025 Junior Hockey World Cup. Facing Chile at a vibrant stadium filled with passionate fans, the young Indian squad dominated possession and unleashed a series of incisive attacks that ultimately overwhelmed their opponents. Striker Aryan Singh stood out with his clinical finishing, bagging two goals in the first half, while midfielder Rahul Deshmukh controlled the pace with deft passes and strategic positioning. India’s cohesive playstyle was evident as the team maintained a relentless press, disrupting Chile’s buildup and forcing errors that turned into scoring chances.

The match statistics highlight India’s superiority across multiple facets of the game:

Metric India Chile
Possession (%) 65 35
Shots on Goal 12 4
Penalty Corners 6 2
Successful Passes (%) 82 68

Key aspects of India’s comeback include:

  • Fluid attacking transitions that caught Chile’s defense off-guard
  • Disciplined defensive structure limiting Chilean breakthroughs
  • Effective penalty corner conversions taking advantage of set-piece opportunities