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India, led by captain Rohit and coached by PR Sreejesh, defeated Chile 7-0 in their FIH Junior Men’s World Cup opener, with Rosan Kujur and Dilraj Singh scoring twice each.
India began their FIH Junior Men’s World Cup campign with 7-0 win over Chile (HI)
India’s chief coach PR Sreejesh instructed his players to focus on scoring goals, resulting in a 7-0 victory over Chile in their opening match of the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup on Friday.
After a scoreless first quarter, India intensified their efforts in the second quarter, netting seven goals. Rosan Kujur and Dilraj Singh each scored twice, while Anmol Ekka, Ajeet Yadav, and captain Rohit added one goal apiece to complete the dominant performance.
“Just put that ball into the goal. That’s really important because circle penetrations are huge but we need to convert chances and I think the players really understood that,” Sreejesh said after the win.
“Once you are inside the circle don’t relax, have killer attitude. You need to have the hunger to score goals. My message was simple, we need to score.”
Sreejesh, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, believes the players will gain more experience as the tournament progresses. “Actually, when the main tournament starts players hesitate a bit initially but once they find out they are in a rhythm they start to penetrate, they start to attack, create opportunities and score. That’s how it works. Now they are on track. It’s a good beginning,” Sreejesh said.
Sreejesh emphasised that during the game, the players must make their own decisions. “We give them every training, but they are the boss on the field and they have to take decisions. I am happy to see them take decisions and it’s working for us,” he said.
‘Just Shoot’
India captain Rohit shared that Sreejesh’s advice after the first quarter was to remain patient and not rush. “Coach sir said not to hurry things, have patience, rotate the ball fast and wait for the right time,” he said.
“The idea was to put pressure on their defence and whenever you get the opportunity just shoot. Earn PCs and finish the chances that come your way.”
India is set to face Oman in their second Pool B match on Saturday.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
November 29, 2025, 07:07 IST
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