Free of cost entry at Junior Hockey World Cup in Tamil Nadu

MADURAI: In a landmark move to encourage greater fan engagement and celebrate the sport’s growing popularity, Hockey India on Sunday announced that entry for all matches of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 will be completely free of cost.

The tournament, set to take place from 28th November to 10th December across Chennai and Madurai, will feature 24 teams, making it the largest edition in Junior World Cup history.

Fans can secure their free virtual tickets through www.ticketgenie.in or the Hockey India mobile app. Upon registration, spectators will receive a digital ticket, ensuring a smooth and paperless entry process without the need for physical redemption.

Speaking about the initiative, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, “This is a historic moment for Indian hockey, and we want every fan to be a part of it. By offering free tickets, our aim is to open the gates for students, young athletes, families, and hockey lovers across Tamil Nadu and beyond. The atmosphere created by passionate fans has always been our biggest strength, and we are committed to making international hockey accessible to everyone.”

Free tickets can be claimed now on Ticketgenie’s web portal and app.

HIL newcomers ready for global challenge

With the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup approaching, several young Indian players are set to take the field in both the tournament and the Hero Hockey India League (HIL). The long-standing link between the Junior World Cup and the HIL has served as an important platform for emerging players, producing names such as Harmanpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak, who were part of India’s title-winning side in 2016.

This year, a new group of prospects will look to follow a similar path. Among them is 19-year-old defender Adrohit Ekka, signed by Tamil Nadu Dragons after rising through the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre. He made his India Junior debut at the 2025 Sultan of Johor Cup and the Junior World Cup will be only his second international assignment.

Seventeen-year-old Ajeet Yadav from Uttar Pradesh also arrives after making his debut at the Sultan of Johor Cup. He was picked up by the HIL Governing Council team following competitive bidding at the Mini Auction.

Karnataka midfielder Sunil PB, aged 19, has progressed through the state system, representing Karnataka at multiple Junior Nationals before earning a contract with Vedanta Kalinga Lancers. He also made his India Junior debut earlier this year and will aim to establish himself at the national level in the coming weeks.

Punjab’s Ravneet Singh was acquired by the Ranchi Royals and, though named as a standby for the World Cup, remains part of the plans after making his first international appearance at the Sultan of Johor Cup. With strong domestic performances behind him, he will hope to push for greater opportunities as the World Cup unfolds.