After Junior World Cup glory, Ankit Pal seeks senior call-up via Hockey India League

When the Indian junior men’s hockey team bounced back from a 5-0 semifinal heartbreak against Germany to clinch bronze at the recent FIH Men’s Junior World Cup 2025, midfielder Ankit Pal stood out for the maturity he displayed in situations that once overwhelmed him.

In the 2021 edition, the story was been different.

India had lost the semifinal to Germany then as well, but the team struggled to lift itself for the bronze-medal match. “In the 2021 edition, what we were missing was the team bond, and the motivation at the end,” Ankit recalled during a conversation ahead of the Hockey India League (HIL) on Wednesday. “Once we lost the semifinal, the spirit dropped.”

Following consecutive 1-3 bronze-medal defeats against France (2021) and Spain (2023), India finally applied those hard-earned lessons to change its fortunes this time around.

“Losing is part of the game,” said the 21-year-old, who was a part of Indian 2021 JWC squad. “We spoke among ourselves. The coaches motivated us and said, ‘Focus on the next match. The past is past.’ That made all the difference.”

India did exactly that – regrouped, reset, and returned with a medal. Staying in the game, the World Cup offered more than a podium finish for Ankit. It sharpened his understanding of mental resilience.

“In the third-place match against Argentina, we were 2–0 down till the third quarter,” he said. “That’s when players tend to get demotivated. I learned how important it is to stay involved, stay focused, and not drift out of the game. That’s how we made a comeback.”

Ankit led India’s 4-2 comeback, scoring his team’s first goal. 

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As a penalty corner stopper, he understands the finer margins of set-piece execution. While India’s conversion rate came under scrutiny, he stressed adaptability over panic.

“Our involvement remained just as high, but sometimes drag-flickers have off days,” he explained. “If the dragger couldn’t flick directly, we tried to create variations. For instance, Sreejesh sir (coach) told us from the sidelines how they (the opponents) were rushing, where the space was, and what variations we could do. We implemented those ideas, and some goals were scored, too. So, I think there is a need for a little improvement, but to a large extent, there was improvement from the first day to the last day.”

Ankit now steps into HIL’s second edition, having been bought by Delhi SG Pipers for ₹20 lakh in the auction before the last edition. He described the league experience as transformative.

“The Junior World Cup was important, but the Hockey India League is even bigger for us,” he said. “This is where juniors transition to the senior level. You’re playing alongside experienced Indian and foreign players. The intensity is completely different.”

So, what has been his biggest takeaway so far?

“Confidence,” he said without hesitation. “And learning how seniors think. Indians see the game one way, foreign players see it differently. When you talk to them, you understand new perspectives.”

Among teammates, he credits senior players like Rupinder Pal Singh, Varun Kumar, and captain Jarmanpreet Singh for their constant guidance. He is particularly close to his Madhya Pradesh statemate and two-time Olympic bronze medallist Vivek Sagar Prasad (Soorma Hockey Club), with whom he interacts more frequently.

“Matching the senior-level intensity is tough,” he admitted. “But they help you understand how much more you can do.”

Ankit’s journey has been anything but smooth. Born into a family with no sporting background, his first exposure to hockey came through the son of his father’s friend. His father’s modest confectionery business meant constant financial strain for the family of six. Ankit has three siblings – two elder brothers and a younger sister. 

“Basically, the start was very tough because there wasn’t that much money. Sometimes, the hockey stick is damaged, but you continue using it. And you don’t have a proper kit, proper shoes. I used to play on grass grounds, no astroturf. So, shoes would get torn much faster,” he said.

The lowest point came early, when he was barely 11 or 12. Homesick at the MP Academy in Bhopal, Ankit kept travelling to Gwalior so often that the academy eventually sent him home. “At that age, you don’t understand the importance of such an academy and how necessary it is for you,” he said. “Being removed hurt a lot. I even thought of quitting hockey.”

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That setback, however, became the turning point. “I realised that if I wanted to continue, I would have to sacrifice some comfort,” he said. He once again cleared the trials to return to the academy, progressed through junior camps, and eventually pulled on the India jersey.

If the bronze medal symbolised sporting growth, the HIL brought something even more personal.

Ankit’s father had seen his small sweet shop shut down during the COVID pandemic. For nearly four years, work was sporadic – catering assignments, helping at other shops, anything to get by.

“We are opening a new shop tomorrow (January 1),” Ankit said, a quiet pride in his voice. “The auction money helped a bit in setting up the shop. There is a big difference between (how the family was financially doing) before and now. I’m very thankful to the Hockey India League for that support,” he said.

Ask Ankit about his goals, and the answer is simple. “Every sportsperson has only one ultimate goal – an Olympic medal.”

For now, though, his focus is immediate – translating junior success into senior relevance.

“The confidence from the Junior World Cup, I want to show that here (in the league),” he said. “To show seniors, selectors, and everyone watching that I’m ready for the next level.”

From a homesick child once unsure if hockey was worth the pain, Ankit Pal now stands at the threshold of Indian hockey’s senior stage – steadier, stronger, and quietly determined to stay in the game, no matter the scoreline.

Published on Jan 03, 2026