Princedeep does a Sreejesh to take India to a home World Cup semi-final in Chennai

India beat Belgium via penalty shoot-out in a thrilling quarterfinal at the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 in Chennai. (Courtesy: PTI photo)

It was the 58th minute of regulation time and yet another Indian attack had been foiled by the Belgian defence. India was up 2-1 and time was now the only thing they needed to play out. The crowd was cheering the team and all they needed to do was hold the Belgians for another minute and a half. That’s when a hasty scoop allowed Belgium the ball near the halfway line. A quick counter attack and a lucky deflection, all of a sudden the game was 2-2 with just 60 seconds on the clock. Belgium had the momentum and it was a huge setback for India.

That’s when things boil down to mental strength. The desire to win, which is so very critical in sport. Shootouts ask questions of your nerves and it was now on Princedeep Singh in goal to try and do a PR Sreejesh, his coach. After the first three attempts in the shootout, both sides were locked at 3-3. Two attempts to decide who makes the world cup semi final against seven times champions Germany. Princedeep was spectacular with the save in Belgium’s fourth attempt and all of a sudden India had the opening they needed. Sadly, they weren’t able to capitalise with the Indian striker slipping as he tried to take the ball away from the goalkeeper.

It was now down to the last shot. The few Belgian fans were seen cheering the team on and the Indians too were determined not to let things get out of hand. Come in Princedeep Singh. He pushed the ball away from the stick of the Belgian player as he was attempting to take the shot and as the forward recovered in time for a second attempt, Princedeep ran back and dived full stretch to bring about a spectacular save. The roar was proof of what the save meant to India. They had the opening they needed to make a home world cup semi-final.

Now it was all down to Ankit Pal. He needed to score to close things out and it was hugely tense in Chennai. He kept his calm, stayed with the ball, dribbled the goalkeeper and managed to take the ball left to a striking angle before unleashing a rocket reverse flick. Within a fraction of a second the ball was in the top left hand corner of the Belgian goal. The campaign was alive and so was India. The players had all rushed to the scorer and as the umpire did his routine check, it was known that the game was over. Rohit Ekka’s side had successfully overcome the Belgian hurdle and now it will be Germany in the semi-final on Sunday.

The hero was undoubtedly Princedeep Singh. And that’s where the PR Sreejesh reference is inevitable. Just a year earlier in Paris it was Sreejesh who did the unthinkable in the shootout against Team Great Britain and had catapulted a 10 men India into the Olympic semi-final. Now it is the turn of the colts coached by Sreejesh. Can they go one better and make the final? After what we have seen last night in Chennai few will want to put it past them.