Hello! We’re back with another live blog, and it’s hockey time as India take on Argentina in the third-place game. Stay tuned for live updates.
Hello! We’re back with another live blog, and it’s hockey time as India take on Argentina in the third-place game. Stay tuned for live updates.
The India vs Argentina, FIH Junior Hockey World Cup match will be live streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India. The game will be telecast on the Star Sports Network TV channels in the country.
Goalkeepers: Bikramjit Singh, Princedeep Singh
Defenders: Rohit (captain), Talem Priyobarta, Anmol Ekka, Amir Ali, Sunil Palakshappa Bennur, Shardanand Tiwari
Midfielders: Ankit Pal, Thounaojam Ingalemba Luwang, Adrohit Ekka, Rosan Kujur, Manmeet Singh, Gurjot Singh
Forwards: Arshdeep Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Ajeet Yadav, Dilraj Singh
Standbys: Ravneet Singh, Rohit Kullu
India's coach, PR Sreejesh refelcted on his team's journey in the tournament so far and the areas on which the Indian still need to work on. "We have played well throughout the tournament except in the semifinal, where conceding easy goals in the first quarter put us under tremendous pressure.
For us, the most important thing is to look into ourselves and understand our strengths, reduce errors, and make sure we convert our opportunities into goals. In tournaments like this, especially knockout games, scoreboard pressure is crucial.
We need to ensure we don’t concede early and create scoring chances right from the first quarter and put ourselves in a comfortable position to build our game,” Sreejesh said.
India head into the third-place play-off against Argentina desperate to bounce back from their crushing 1–5 semifinal defeat to Germany. Their campaign started brightly with a free-flowing, high-scoring group stage, but the knockout round exposed gaps that cost them dearly. Argentina arrive in a similar mood after a tight 1–2 loss to Spain, making this a clash between two wounded sides fighting for a bronze medal and a respectable finish in Chennai.
Argentina and India line up for the national anthems, the crowd settles in, and the noise softens. The final notes fade, the teams split from the line, and we’re ready to get going. Pushback just seconds away.
Argentina push forward right away, the match is live and they start with possession. India are working from left to right on your screen. Scoreline still 0-0.
Argentina land the first blow! Nicolas Rodriguez steps up for the penalty stroke and buries it without a hint of hesitation, clean, calm, ruthless. India fall behind early, and the stadium feels that sharp shift in momentum.
It all comes from Rodriguez himself: a slick steal, a bursting solo run straight into the circle, and Anmol Ekka lunges in with a heavy challenge. The initial call is a penalty corner, but the umpire doesn’t think twice, upgraded to a stroke almost immediately. India don’t even look toward the review screen; they know the decision is spot on.
Three minutes in, and Argentina strike first. India trail 0-1.
India win a free hit, easing the pressure and stopping Argentina from doubling their lead.
India are on the move, trying to bounce back quickly, but Manmeet’s pass slips past the baseline, cutting short the momentum. Argentina breathe a sigh of relief as the chance goes begging, keeping their slim lead intact.
India make their first change between the sticks. Bikramjit Singh comes on for Princedeep as the usual end-of-quarter goalkeeper swap. Score remains IND 0‑1 ARG.
Sunil sneaks the ball into the circle from the right flank, but with no Indian player making contact, the Argentine goalkeeper can only watch it roll in. The crowd roars, thinking it’s a goal, but it won’t count, no touch or deflection inside the circle.
And that’s halftime! India trail 0‑1 after conceding early to Argentina’s penalty stroke, but the second quarter told a different story. The hosts dominated possession, pushed forward relentlessly, and tested the Argentine defence time and again. Still, the visitors held firm, keeping the scoreboard unchanged.
Surprisingly, neither side has managed to earn a single penalty corner in the first 30 minutes. Can India turn things around in the second half?
India come flying out after halftime, earning four penalty corners in a row, but nothing clicks. Rohit’s first drag flick is saved, the second hits a defender’s foot, the third variation falls apart as Anmol Ekka loses balance, and the fourth soars high over the crossbar. A huge missed opportunity, and India will hope it doesn’t come back to bite them.
Argentina then respond with a PC of their own. The drag flick is clean and on target, but Princedeep pulls off a sharp double save before Amir Ali sweeps it off the goal-line, keeping India alive.
Argentina strike again, and India are in real trouble now. The pressure had been building, the gaps were starting to show, and finally the defence gives way. A sharp ball whipped in from the left slices India open, finds Santiago Fernandez near the baseline, and he tucks it home with ease.
India now trail 0-2.
India hit back and the stadium erupts! Arshdeep Singh dances inside the circle, forces a foul, and wins a huge penalty corner. Argentina scream for a review, but they’re out of referrals, nothing to check, the PC stands.
In the routine, the ball is slipped to Anmol Ekka, who skips the direct flick and threads a clever pass to Ankit Pal parked right in front of goal. Argentina’s rushers have darted out, leaving Pal completely free, and he coolly deflects it in.
India are alive. India are fighting. IND 1-2 ARG.
India equalise and the stadium explodes! They take a quick advantage, Arshdeep storms in from the right and forces another PC. The injection goes straight to Anmol Ekka, who once again opts for the smart pass rather than the direct flick, sliding it to the free man waiting in front of goal.
Manmeet is all alone, perfectly placed, and he finishes with total composure. India roar back to 2-2 and this match has burst wide open.
India turn the match on its head. Shardanand Tiwari walks up for the penalty stroke with all the pressure in the world sitting on his stick. He stays ice-cold, drives it cleanly into the net, and the moment it hits the backboard, he’s off sprinting in celebration as his teammates chase him down.
For the first time tonight, India are in front, and there are under four minutes left.
IND 3-2 ARG.
That’s a wrap from the bronze clash, with India beating Argentina 4-2. Now all eyes turn to the final - follow our live blog for Germany vs Spain. Until then, bye-bye.