Tamil Nadu likely to host Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup 2025: Reports

Tamil Nadu is most likely to host the 2025 edition of the FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup 2025. Earlier this year, India won hosting rights for the upcoming edition of the tournament. India hosted the championship in three successive seasons in 2013 (New Delhi), 2016 (Lucknow) and 2021 (Bhubaneshwar).

If reports are to be believed, Chennai and Madurai are being considered the two venues in Tamil Nadu to host the World Cup, comprising 24 teams and 72 games. Last year, the Asian Champions Trophy took place in Tamil Nadu where India won after beating Malaysia 4-3 in the final.

“We have given the letter of intent to the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). AHF has given its consent. We will also work out the modalities soon. AHF and Hockey India are on board regarding TN hosting the World Cup. There will be two venues for the World Cup: one will be in Chennai and the other possibly in Madurai,” a top government source was quoted as saying to Sportstar.

“It’s too early for an MOU. The need for two venues is there will be 24 teams & 72 matches,” the source added.

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How have India performed in Men's Hockey Junior World Cup?

India have won the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup two times in 2001 and 2016 while they finished as the runners-up back in 1997. Last time around in 2023 when the event took place in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, India lost 3-1 to Spain in their bronze medal match.

India defeated the Netherlands 4-3 in the quarterfinals after which Germany handed them a 4-1 defeat in the semis. Thereafter, India went down to Spain and missed out on a third-place finish.

Germany won the title for the seventh time after beating France 2-1 in the final at the Malaysia National Hockey Stadium.