Jr Men’s Hockey World Cup: Chennai and Madurai Announced as Co-Hosts
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Synopsis
Hockey India has confirmed that Chennai and Madurai will jointly host the FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup from November 28 to December 10, 2025. This historic event will feature 24 teams competing for the title across two cities for the first time in history. The tournament promises to enhance the profile of hockey in Tamil Nadu.
Key Takeaways
- Chennai and Madurai to co-host the FIH Junior Men's Hockey World Cup.
- The event runs from November 28 to December 10, 2025.
- 24 teams will participate in this historic occasion.
- This is the third Junior World Cup hosted by India.
- Matches will be held in the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium and a new synthetic turf stadium in Madurai.
New Delhi, March 28 (NationPress) Hockey India has officially revealed that Chennai and Madurai in Tamil Nadu will serve as the co-host cities for the upcoming FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup, scheduled from November 28 to December 10, 2025. This marks the inaugural occasion that this esteemed tournament will take place in two different cities.
Since its inception in 1979, this fortnight-long hockey event will, for the very first time, feature 24 teams vying for the prestigious title.
This will be the third time that the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup is hosted in India, with previous tournaments having been conducted in Bhubaneswar, Odisha in 2021 and Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in 2016, where India emerged victorious.
Commenting on the event, Hockey India president, Dr. Dilip Tirkey, stated, “It is a matter of immense pride for Hockey India to host the upcoming FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup. I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Chief Minister MK Stalin and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for their exceptional support in facilitating this event.
“With 24 teams participating in this edition of the Junior World Cup, the matches will be held in two cities: Chennai and Madurai. While Chennai has previously hosted the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023, Madurai will be welcoming an international event of this scale for the first time, and we are excited to promote hockey across various regions of the country,” added Tirkey.
Reflecting on Hockey India’s capability to host significant events, Bhola Nath Singh, the secretary general, remarked, “Our federation has consistently been at the forefront of hosting global events, and we are committed to ensuring the FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup is a tremendous success.
“Our goal is to bring hockey to diverse locations throughout India and enhance the sport's profile. This vision led us to select Chennai and Madurai as the venues, facilitated by the unwavering support of the Tamil Nadu State Government and the leadership of our Treasurer Sekar Manoharan,” he concluded.
Expressing enthusiasm about reviving hockey’s glory days in Tamil Nadu, Sekar Manoharan, Treasurer of Hockey India and president of Hockey Tamil Nadu, stated, “I am thankful to Chief Minister MK Stalin and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for their dedication and support for the sport. We in Tamil Nadu are eager to restore the former prestige of hockey in our state, as Chennai has long been a favored venue for international hockey events. We look forward to welcoming global hockey enthusiasts to our splendid state and showcasing our hospitality.”
The matches in Chennai will take place at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Egmore, while the games in the Madurai leg will occur at a newly constructed synthetic turf stadium that is yet to be named.
To date, India has secured two gold and one silver medals in 14 editions of the FIH Junior Men's Hockey World Cup. The nation's first medal was achieved in 1997 at Milton Keynes, England, where the team finished as runners-up to Australia with a score of 3-2. Four years later, in Hobart, Australia, India claimed the Junior World Cup for the first time. In the last two editions of the tournament in 2021 and 2023, India secured fourth place.
