🏑 Dec 5 at Chennai: India Outsmart Belgium in Shootout Thriller to Enter Junior World Cup Semifinals
Chennai, Tamil Nadu — 5 December 2025.
In one of the most dramatic nights of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025, India U-21 defeated Belgium U-21 4–3 in a shootout after a pulsating 2–2 draw at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium to seal a coveted semifinal berth. The quarterfinal showdown had everything — early pressure, late equaliser, nerve-shredding shootout drama and a roaring Chennai crowd that turned the stadium into a fortress.
🇧🇪 Belgium Strike First, India Absorb the Pressure
Belgium began with patience and authority, slowing the tempo and forcing India to defend deep in the first period. Their reward came in the 13th minute, when shirt #32 converted a field goal, giving Belgium a 0–1 lead.
India struggled to find clear circle entries early on as Belgium’s midfield compactness cut off passing lanes. The first quarter ended in Belgium’s favour, while India entered the second period searching for rhythm.
Belgium continued to control large portions of the second quarter with disciplined positional play, ensuring they went into half-time still leading 1–0.
🇮🇳 India Roar Back with Back-to-Back Penalty Corners
The match exploded into life after the break. Backed by a partisan crowd, India pushed higher up the field and began winning crucial set-pieces.
In the 45th minute, captain Rohit (#23) slammed home a penalty corner to bring India level at 1–1.
Just three minutes later, the stadium erupted again when Sharda Nand Tiwari (#1) converted another penalty corner to put India ahead 2–1 in the 48th minute.
For the first time in the match, India had seized full control — both emotionally and tactically.
⏱️ Belgium’s Last-Minute Lifeline
Just when India looked set to close the contest in regulation time, Belgium struck back with ruthless precision. In the 59th minute, shirt #9 fired a field goal past the Indian goalkeeper to make it 2–2, stunning the Chennai crowd into silence.
With no further goals in regulation time, the quarterfinal marched into a shootout — the ultimate test of nerve.
🎯 Shootout Heroes: India Hold Their Nerve
The shootout became a showcase of composure and goalkeeping reflexes.
- Gurjot Singh (#7) and Ajeet Yadav (#25) converted confidently for India.
- Sharda Nand Tiwari (#1) emerged as the hero, scoring multiple shootout goals with ice-cold precision.
- Indian goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh (#16) produced crucial stops to deny Belgian attackers when it mattered most.
Belgium matched India early, but crucial misses in the latter rounds tilted the balance. The final shootout score read:
👉 India 4 – Belgium 3 (Shootout)
As the winning goal went in, the Indian bench sprinted onto the turf in celebration, while Belgium’s players collapsed in disbelief after an agonisingly close contest.
🏟️ Chennai Turns Fortress on Quarterfinal Night
The Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium delivered one of its loudest nights of the tournament. Drums, chants and tricolours filled the stands long before the final whistle. Every Indian penalty corner was greeted with thunder, every Belgian counterattack met with collective gasps.
This was not just a match — it was a city backing its future Olympians under the brightest lights of their young careers.
âś… Final Verdict
India’s victory was built on set-piece efficiency, emotional resilience and shootout composure. Belgium were tactically sharp and brave in attack, but on a night where nerves ruled destiny, India were the calmer side.
With this victory, India marched into the semifinals, keeping their World Cup dream alive on home soil — and sending a clear message: when pressure peaks in Chennai, the hosts know how to rise.
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