Defending champions India edge past Belgium into the semi-final of the FIH Men`s Junior Hockey World Cup 2021 in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday.

Sharda Nand Tiwari's 21st-minute goal became the only difference between the two sides at the Kalinga Stadium.

India will now clash with six-time champions Germany in the semi-final. While Argentina will play against France as the latter cruised past Malaysia to enter the last-4.

As expected, the match started at a fast pace but remain pretty cagey for most of the first quarter. The team from Europe started on the front foot as they dominated possession but India grew into the match as the quarter progressed.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fih-junior-world-cup-defending-champions-india-to-face-belgium-in-quarter-finals-433044">FIH Junior World Cup: Defending champions India to face Belgium in quarter-finals</a>

In the second-quarter vice-captain, Sanjay did the trick for the hosts as he won the penalty corner after storming down from the right flank.

India colts who have been clinical in the PC during the whole tournament made sure to utilise the big chance in the game as Sanjay came up with a variation that worked to utter perfection.

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Houston, we are into the semis 🇮🇳💙 
 
India Colts have done it 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaKaGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaKaGame</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JWC2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JWC2021</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RisingStars?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RisingStars</a> <a href="https://t.co/oSQmRk28PQ">pic.twitter.com/oSQmRk28PQ</a>
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHockeyIndia/status/1466067555508834310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fih-hockey-mens-junior-wc-hosts-india-stumble-to-4-5-loss-in-opening-game-vs-france-431819">FIH Hockey Men's Junior WC: Hosts India stumble to 4-5 loss in opening game vs France</a>

He faked a drag flick and rounded it for Sharda Nand Tiwari who blasted it past the Belgium goal-keeper.In the second half, both sides had their chances to go in front but none were taken.

In the tense last fifteen minutes, Indian goalkeeper Pawan superbly held his nerve as he pulled off two big moments during Belgium`s PC to ensure hosts play SF against Germany.

Defending champions India edge past Belgium into the semi-final of the FIH Men`s Junior Hockey World Cup 2021 in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday. Sharda Nand Tiwari's 21st-minute goal became the only difference between the two sides at the Kalinga Stadium.

Defending champions India edge past Belgium into the semi-final of the FIH Men`s Junior Hockey World Cup 2021 in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday. Sharda Nand Tiwari's 21st-minute goal became the only difference between the two sides at the Kalinga Stadium. India will now clash with six-time champions Germany in the semi-final. While Argentina will play against France as the latter cruised past Malaysia to enter the last-4. As expected, the match started at a fast pace but remain pretty cagey for most of the first quarter. The team from Europe started on the front foot as they dominated possession but India grew into the match as the quarter progressed. ALSO READ: FIH Junior World Cup: Defending champions India to face Belgium in quarter-finals In the second-quarter vice-captain, Sanjay did the trick for the hosts as he won the penalty corner after storming down from the right flank. India colts who have been clinical in the PC during the whole tournament made sure to utilise the big chance in the game as Sanjay came up with a variation that worked to utter perfection. Houston, we are into the semis 🇮🇳💙 India Colts have done it 💪#IndiaKaGame #JWC2021 #RisingStars pic.twitter.com/oSQmRk28PQ — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 1, 2021 × ALSO READ: FIH Hockey Men's Junior WC: Hosts India stumble to 4-5 loss in opening game vs France He faked a drag flick and rounded it for Sharda Nand Tiwari who blasted it past the Belgium goal-keeper.In the second half, both sides had their chances to go in front but none were taken. In the tense last fifteen minutes, Indian goalkeeper Pawan superbly held his nerve as he pulled off two big moments during Belgium`s PC to ensure hosts play SF against Germany.

FIH Junior World Cup: Defending champs India edge past Belgium 1-0 in thriller, to play Germany in semis

Having finished second in their preliminary round group following a defeat to France in their opening match, defending champions India take on top contender Belgium in the quarter-finals of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's Junior World Cup here on Wednesday in a match that could make or break their fortunes in the event.

Victory will take them into the semi-finals while defeat would bring to a premature end their defence of the title India won at home in 2016. 
 
Belgium are ranked first in the World in Junior Rankings while India are fifth, the Red Devils are unbeaten so far in this event though being held to a draw by Malaysia is a blemish they have to carry into the match against India.

India on the other hand have recovered well after the 4-5 defeat against France to comprehensively beat Canada (13-1) and Poland (8-2).

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fih-hockey-mens-junior-wc-hosts-india-stumble-to-4-5-loss-in-opening-game-vs-france-431819">FIH Hockey Men's Junior WC: Hosts India stumble to 4-5 loss in opening game vs France</a>

Considering all these aspects, it will be a huge challenge for India when they take on Belgium in the key last-eight clash. Belgium are a very compact team and as India chief coach Graham Reid said it is in their DNA to "move the ball very quickly and with ability and confidence, which has come down from the senior team"

So, just like the senior team, Junior Red Devils are very dangerous, they defend well and are very aggressive attack. They are quick on counter-attack and are very good in penalty corner conversion, presenting a huge challenge for any team. 
 
"But there are also some vulnerabilities (in Belgium's play) that Malaysia had exploited and I am confident my team will be able to try that," said Reid. 
 
And India will have to take on this challenge without key midfielder Maninder Singh, who suffered a hamstring injury during the match against Poland and has not yet recovered from that. Coach Reid said Bobby Singh will replace him with Bobby Singh, who will have to manage the midfield with skipper Vivek Sagar Prasad. 
 
A strong and aggressive forward-line and abundant drag flickers have turned out to be the aces up the sleeves of the Indian team. Araijeet Singh Hundal and Uttam Singh have been India`s most successful forwards in the event so far with five and four goals respectively. Hundal has scored both field goals and off penalty corners and India will depend on him and defender Sanjay to do the bulk of the scoring. Sharda Nand Tiwari is another one who has been successful with his penalty corners. 
 
The Indians will have to guard against conceding early goals as they did against France and ensure that they defend deep and don't allow Belgium to take control of the midfield.

IN PICS:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-neeraj-chopra-to-mithali-raj-list-of-athletes-who-won-major-dhyan-chand-khel-ratna-award-in-2021-429094">From Neeraj Chopra to Mithali Raj: List of athletes who won Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021</a> 
 
Coach Reid accepted that his boys will have to be calm and composed during the entire match and should play with discipline and not get too many cards as they did against Poland. 
 
The hosts will take heart from India's victory against Belgium in the final of the 2016 edition at Lucknow. Though those were two different teams. "It does give us a boost that we are going into the match as defending champions but that is not a lot. Every tournament is different from another. What matters more is how you play on the day and what gives you more confidence in the fact that we have prepared well, played, and stayed together for months," said defender Yashdeep Siwach. 
 
India does have an edge in head-to-head, having won four of the five matches against Belgium in the U-21 stage. 
 
In other quarter-final matches on Wednesday, six-time champions Germany take on European rivals Spain, the Netherlands, looking to win their first title in the Junior World Cup, meet Argentina while France face Malaysia in third quarter-final.

Having finished second in their preliminary round group following a defeat to France in their opening match, defending champions India take on top contender Belgium in the quarter-finals of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's Junior World Cup here on Wednesday in a match that could make or break their fortunes in the event.

Having finished second in their preliminary round group following a defeat to France in their opening match, defending champions India take on top contender Belgium in the quarter-finals of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's Junior World Cup here on Wednesday in a match that could make or break their fortunes in the event. Victory will take them into the semi-finals while defeat would bring to a premature end their defence of the title India won at home in 2016. Belgium are ranked first in the World in Junior Rankings while India are fifth, the Red Devils are unbeaten so far in this event though being held to a draw by Malaysia is a blemish they have to carry into the match against India. India on the other hand have recovered well after the 4-5 defeat against France to comprehensively beat Canada (13-1) and Poland (8-2). ALSO READ: FIH Hockey Men's Junior WC: Hosts India stumble to 4-5 loss in opening game vs France Considering all these aspects, it will be a huge challenge for India when they take on Belgium in the key last-eight clash. Belgium are a very compact team and as India chief coach Graham Reid said it is in their DNA to "move the ball very quickly and with ability and confidence, which has come down from the senior team" So, just like the senior team, Junior Red Devils are very dangerous, they defend well and are very aggressive attack. They are quick on counter-attack and are very good in penalty corner conversion, presenting a huge challenge for any team. "But there are also some vulnerabilities (in Belgium's play) that Malaysia had exploited and I am confident my team will be able to try that," said Reid. And India will have to take on this challenge without key midfielder Maninder Singh, who suffered a hamstring injury during the match against Poland and has not yet recovered from that. Coach Reid said Bobby Singh will replace him with Bobby Singh, who will have to manage the midfield with skipper Vivek Sagar Prasad. A strong and aggressive forward-line and abundant drag flickers have turned out to be the aces up the sleeves of the Indian team. Araijeet Singh Hundal and Uttam Singh have been India`s most successful forwards in the event so far with five and four goals respectively. Hundal has scored both field goals and off penalty corners and India will depend on him and defender Sanjay to do the bulk of the scoring. Sharda Nand Tiwari is another one who has been successful with his penalty corners. The Indians will have to guard against conceding early goals as they did against France and ensure that they defend deep and don't allow Belgium to take control of the midfield. IN PICS: From Neeraj Chopra to Mithali Raj: List of athletes who won Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021 Coach Reid accepted that his boys will have to be calm and composed during the entire match and should play with discipline and not get too many cards as they did against Poland. The hosts will take heart from India's victory against Belgium in the final of the 2016 edition at Lucknow. Though those were two different teams. "It does give us a boost that we are going into the match as defending champions but that is not a lot. Every tournament is different from another. What matters more is how you play on the day and what gives you more confidence in the fact that we have prepared well, played, and stayed together for months," said defender Yashdeep Siwach. India does have an edge in head-to-head, having won four of the five matches against Belgium in the U-21 stage. In other quarter-final matches on Wednesday, six-time champions Germany take on European rivals Spain, the Netherlands, looking to win their first title in the Junior World Cup, meet Argentina while France face Malaysia in third quarter-final.

FIH Junior World Cup: Defending champions India to face Belgium in quarter-finals

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FIH Junior World Cup: Defending champs India edge past Belgium 1-0 in thriller, to play Germany in semis

FIH Junior World Cup: Defending champions India to face Belgium in quarter-finals