Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team Ends Belgium Tour on High, Coach Frederic Soyez Sees Positive Progress

Antwerp, July 18, 2026: The Indian Junior (U21) Men's Hockey Team wrapped up its six-match exposure tour of Belgium on a positive note with a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Netherlands, leaving head coach Frederic Soyez encouraged by the team's growth and performances against some of Europe's strongest sides.

The exposure tour, held from July 5 to 18, provided India's young squad with valuable international experience against Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Despite a mixed set of results, the team displayed significant improvement throughout the campaign, culminating in an impressive victory in the final match.

"This Belgium tour has been an outstanding experience, both on and off the field. Competing against high-quality opposition in a demanding environment has provided invaluable opportunities for growth, learning and team development," said coach Frederic Soyez.

Mixed Results but Steady Improvement

India began the tour at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre with a 2-4 defeat against Austria before bouncing back in emphatic fashion to register a 4-1 victory in the second meeting, powered by three field goals and a penalty-corner conversion.

The team then faced tougher challenges against European heavyweights. India suffered a narrow 2-3 loss to hosts Belgium before going down 0-1 to Germany, who scored the winner through a last-minute penalty corner.

Another 2-4 defeat to Belgium followed in the fifth fixture, but the Indian side responded brilliantly in the tour finale at the Hockey Centre of Excellence in Antwerp, edging the Netherlands 4-3 in an entertaining, high-scoring contest.

Coach Soyez Pleased With Team's Development

While acknowledging the results, Soyez stressed that the team's continuous improvement from one game to the next was the biggest takeaway from the tour.

"Beyond the results, what stands out most is the progress the team made from one match to the next. With every game, our performances improved, reflecting the players' commitment, adaptability and willingness to learn."

The coach also highlighted the narrow defeats against Belgium and Germany as valuable learning experiences that demonstrated the team's competitiveness against elite opposition.

"Although we narrowly lost to Belgium and Germany, our overall performances were very encouraging and there were many positive lessons to take away. In our last match of the tour, the team delivered its best performance, demonstrating the progress we had made as well as the character and resilience of the group in securing a well-deserved victory over the Netherlands."

Building Towards the Future

Looking ahead, Soyez believes the exposure gained during the Belgium tour will play a vital role in preparing the young players for future international competitions.

He acknowledged that the squad still has areas to improve, particularly in maintaining consistency and capitalising on crucial moments during matches, but expressed confidence that the team is moving in the right direction.

"Of course, there is still work to be done, particularly in maintaining consistency and being more efficient in key moments of the game, but the progress is clear. This tour has given us confidence that we are moving in the right direction and has provided a strong foundation for our continued development."

About Hockey India

Hockey India is the governing body for the sport in the country and oversees the development of hockey across all levels, including the men's, women's and junior national teams, while promoting the game through domestic and international competitions.

 

(Inputs from Press Release)