India aim strong start as Jyoti Singh leads squad for Santiago campaign
The Indian junior women’s hockey team has departed for Santiago, Chile, to compete in the FIH Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025, scheduled from December 1 to 13. The 20-member squad, including two alternates, left from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on Sunday night, marking the beginning of their preparation on foreign soil.
India have been drawn in Pool C alongside Germany, Ireland and Namibia. The team will open their campaign against Namibia on December 1, followed by matches against Germany on December 3 and Ireland on December 5. The top teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage beginning December 7.
Tournament structure and competing nations
The event will feature top junior teams from across the world, divided into competitive pools:
Pool A: Netherlands, Japan, Chile, Malaysia
Pool B: Argentina, Belgium, Zimbabwe, Wales
Pool C: India, Germany, Ireland, Namibia
Pool D: England, South Africa, China, Austria
Pool E: Australia, Spain, Canada, Scotland
Pool F: USA, Korea, New Zealand, Uruguay
The knockout rounds, classification matches and final will take place from December 7 to 13.
Team leadership and squad composition
The team continues under the captaincy of Jyoti Singh, with Tushar Khandker serving as chief coach.
Goalkeepers:
Nidhi, Engil Harsha Rani Minz
Defenders:
Manisha, Lalthanlualangi, Sakshi Shukla, Puja Sahoo, Nandini
Midfielders:
Sakshi Rana, Ishika, Sunelita Toppo, Jyoti Singh, Khaidem Shileima Chanu, Binima Dhan
Forwards:
Sonam, Purnima Yadav, Kanika Siwach, Hina Bano, Sukhveer Kaur
Alternates:
Priyanka Yadav, Parwati Topno
Team preparations and mindset
The squad recently completed a training phase in India and is reported to be fully fit and competition-ready. The coaching unit has emphasised tactical discipline, defensive structure, and finishing efficiency—areas that will be crucial against European opponents.
The team enters the tournament looking to improve on past performances, with expectations growing around India’s rising youth hockey system.
What comes next
India will have light recovery sessions upon arrival in Santiago before entering official practice slots at the match venue. The tournament opener against Namibia will be key in determining momentum, especially ahead of the tougher fixtures against Germany and Ireland.
With a blend of emerging talent, established junior performers and experienced coaching support, India are seen as competitive contenders for a quarterfinal berth.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople
India’s junior women’s squad begins its World Cup journey with confidence, structure and strong leadership under Jyoti Singh. The team’s pool fixtures offer a clear pathway to the knockouts, provided they start strong and maintain composure against higher-ranked opponents. With increasing international exposure, growing strategic maturity and motivated coaching guidance, this campaign represents an important milestone for the next generation of Indian women’s hockey talent. The coming days will reveal whether the team can convert potential into results on the world stage.