Princedeep, Bikramjit look to help India win gold in FIH Junior Men’s World Cup 2025
Princedeep Singh and Bikramjit Singh (both 21-year-olds) are two confident young goalkeepers, eager to win gold for India at the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup, which begins on November 28 in Chennai.
India last won the tournament nine years ago, in Lucknow, and finished a disappointing fourth in 2021 and 2023.
The competition, this time, too, will be tough with Australia, seven-time champion Germany and the Netherlands among key contenders for the title.
Under head coach and former India goalkeeper P. R. Sreejesh, who had been a pillar of strength for the senior team, Princedeep and Bikramjit have been learning a lot.
“He (Sreejesh) tells us about our mistakes in detail. He knows how much pressure there is on the goalkeeper. He has brought a lot of changes in technique in the way we position ourselves and save the aerial shots and ground shots,” they said.
Though the two boys are fierce competitors, they share a professional bond, having been together in the Indian junior team in two previous tournaments: the 2025 Sultan of Johor Cup, where India bagged a silver, and the 2024 junior Asia Cup, where India won the gold.
“We are roommates here. For us, the team comes first. We talk about each other’s mistakes, and it’s been really helpful,” they said.
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Bikramjit initially turned heads in the 2025 Hockey India League (HIL), where he was adjudged the best goalkeeper of the tournament, playing for Hyderabad Toofans.
“It was great. Playing in HIL taught us how to handle the pressure,” he said.
For Princedeep, being part of the Tamil Nadu Dragons in the 2025 HIL and learning from teammate and legendary Ireland goalkeeper David Harte was once in a lifetime experience.
“Both are totally different. One is short (Bikram) and the other is tall (Princedeep). Bikram is agile, had a good HIL. Prince(deep) has come into the Indian team after injuries to his leg and shoulder. He is doing good,” Sreejesh observed.
“I want to make sure the goalkeepers are ready for every match. In the group stages, we plan to change the goalkeeper in each quarter. From the quarterfinals, we will take a call as to who will play the shootouts.”
Shootouts or not, the two have a set target. “We have to win and keep the Trophy in India,” Princedeep and Bikramjit said, smiling from ear to ear.
Published on Nov 24, 2025