Chennai, Nov 15 (NationPress) The Indian junior men’s hockey team has arrived in Chennai on Saturday in anticipation of the prestigious FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025. This tournament is set to take place in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10.

As a two-time champion of the Junior World Cup, India aims to leverage its home advantage to reclaim the title they last secured in 2016 in Lucknow. Their first victory came in 2001 in Hobart, Australia, and they were runners-up in 1997 in Milton Keynes.

The team is placed in Pool B alongside Chile, Switzerland, and Oman. They will be guided by the legendary former goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and captained by Rohit. The team is entering the tournament with confidence after a commendable performance at the recent Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia, where they secured a silver medal.

In preparation for the World Cup, the junior team faced top international competition this year at the Four Nations Tournament in Berlin, followed by an extensive European tour in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Their rigorous training camps in Bengaluru have set them up to showcase their skills on a global platform.

Upon their arrival, captain Rohit expressed, “We are thrilled to be here in Chennai for such a significant tournament. Our preparations have spanned several months, and we are eager to face the best teams globally. Tamil Nadu has a rich hockey heritage, and we invite fans to support us at the stadium.”

Teammate Amir Ali shared similar sentiments, stating, “Playing the World Cup on home ground is a privilege. Nearly ten years ago, India celebrated victory as host nation, and we are determined to replicate that success here in Chennai. Our team is confident in our preparations and will continue to train diligently to meet upcoming challenges.”

India is set to kick off their campaign against Chile on November 28, with subsequent matches against Oman and Switzerland on November 29 and December 2, respectively.