Latest news with #WorldYouthCup
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Minerva Academy lift World Youth Cup
1 2 3 Minerva Academy FC has become the first Indian team to win the World Youth Cup twice, securing the 2025 Gothia Cup title in Sweden. The Chandigarh-based club clinched the trophy with a 4-0 win over Argentina's Escuela de Football 18 Tucumán in the final. Minerva remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, winning all their group matches and conceding only two goals across all fixtures. In the semi-finals, the team defeated Swedish side Syrianska IF 2-0, with goals from Rhythm and Chetan T. In the final, the Indian side scored four goals in the first half through Rhythm, Yohenba, Raj, and Denamoni. The defense remained solid, preventing any goals from the Argentine team. This marks Minerva's second title at the prestigious youth tournament, having previously won in an earlier edition.
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Minerva Academy become U14 champions in Gothia World Youth Cup
New Delhi, Jul 19 (PTI) In a remarkable feat, Punjab's Minerva Academy FC on Saturday became the champions of Gothia Cup, touted as the World Youth Cup, in the boys under-14 category in Gothenburg, Sweden, two years after winning the U-13 title. The Mohali-based side beat Escuela de Football 18 Tucuman of Argentina 4-0 in the final on Saturday. They had won the Boys U-13 title in 2023 after beating Brazilian side Ordin FC 2-0 in the final, then becoming the first Indian club to become champions of the prestigious tournament. Minerva topped their group after beating LB07, Skoftebyns IF and Stensatra IF — all Swedish clubs. They then beat Sweden's Syrianska IF 2-0 in the semifinals with Rhythm and Chetan T scoring the goals in the 9-a-side match. In the final, Minerva emerged 4-0 winners against the Argentine club with Rhythm, Yohenba, Raj and Denamoni finding the targets. Minerva thus won the title undefeated. Sixty-seven teams from 10 different countries competed in the boys 14B category. The teams were divided into 16 different groups and Minerva were placed in Group 12. At Gothia Cup, Girls U13, Boys U13, Girls U14B and Boys U14B play 9-a-side. There are nine player on the pitch — one goalkeeper and eight players. Each team may use a maximum of 16 players (nine players on the pitch and seven substitutes) in a match. A substituted player may reenter the match. One over-aged player is allowed in the roster for each match. Other rules are same as in 11-a-side match. The Gothia Cup is the world's largest youth tournament organised by professional football club BK Hacken and is held annually since 1975 in Gothenburg, Sweden. It was the silver jubilee edition this year. A record-breaking 1,920 teams took part this year from the mere 275 in 1975. Each year, around 1700 teams from 80 nations take part in the Gothia Cup and they play 4500 games on 110 pitches during one week in July in a football festival of youngsters. PTI PDS PDS AT AT view comments First Published: July 19, 2025, 19:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Minerva Academy Wins U-14 Title At Gothia 'World Youth' Cup, Sets New Records
Last Updated: Minerva Academy FC from Punjab won the Gothia Cup in the boys under-14 category in Gothenburg, Sweden, defeating Escuela de Football 18 Tucuman from Argentina 4-0 in the final. Punjab's Minerva Academy FC achieved a significant milestone on Saturday by winning the Gothia Cup, known as the World Youth Cup, in the boys under-14 category in Gothenburg, Sweden. This victory comes two years after their triumph in the U-13 title. The Mohali-based team defeated Escuela de Football 18 Tucuman from Argentina with a decisive 4-0 score in the final. In 2023, Minerva clinched the Boys U-13 title by defeating Brazilian side Ordin FC 2-0 in the final, becoming the first Indian club to win this prestigious tournament. Minerva dominated their group, securing victories against Swedish clubs LB07, Skoftebyns IF, and Stensatra IF. They then won 2-0 against Sweden's Syrianska IF in the semifinals, with goals from Rhythm and Chetan T in the 9-a-side match. In the final, Minerva emerged victorious with a 4-0 win against the Argentine club, with goals scored by Rhythm, Yohenba, Raj, and Denamoni, thus winning the title undefeated. How Minerva Academy Become U14 Champions In Gothia 'World Youth' Cup? Sixty-seven teams from 10 different countries competed in the boys 14B category, divided into 16 groups, with Minerva placed in Group 12. At Gothia Cup, Girls U13, Boys U13, Girls U14B, and Boys U14B play 9-a-side matches. Each team has nine players on the pitch: one goalkeeper and eight outfield players. Teams may use up to 16 players per match, including seven substitutes. Substituted players can reenter the match, and one over-aged player is allowed in the roster for each match. Other rules are the same as in 11-a-side matches. Throughout the tournament, Minerva scored more than 50 goals and conceded only two. The Gothia Cup is the world's largest youth tournament, organized by professional football club BK Hacken, and has been held annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, since 1975. This year marked the silver jubilee edition, with a record-breaking 1,920 teams participating, compared to 275 teams in 1975. Every year, around 1,700 teams from 80 nations take part in the Gothia Cup, playing 4,500 games on 110 pitches over one week in July, creating a football festival for young players. view comments First Published: July 19, 2025, 19:44 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Heady Rise For Young Pulse Defender
On the brink of playing in the Elimination Final, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse defender Laura Balmer is still taking stock of her short but adventurous introduction to life in the ANZ Premiership netball league. The Pulse take on the Tactix in Christchurch on Sunday evening to decide who will meet the Northern Mystics in the league's Grand Final, a week later. Sailing close to the wind at times to get to this position, the Pulse have another big challenge in store against a seasoned Tactix side, who remain unbeaten at home this campaign and have remained largely injury-free. The pair has met twice this season with a win apiece. ``Our last three games have kind of been do-or-die so we're not strangers to that situation, we know how to come together and win each moment,'' Balmer said. ``You can't go into it thinking who won what, it's a complete clean slate. Our focus is, respect your opposition, do all the game prep and analysis to the best of our ability, and go in with our game faces on.'' Hoping to nail a spot in the NZ U21 team to contest the World Youth Cup in September, it has been a whirlwind seven months for Balmer, 21, who at the beginning of the year expected to be playing for the Southern Blast in the National Netball League (NNL) and continuing her medical studies in Dunedin. It was a pinch-me-moment when she was drafted into the Pulse as a replacement player ahead of the season, her life taking a completely different turn and which, subsequently, has included many more pinch-me-moments. In the wake of injury to Parris Mason, that included her first start last weekend in the largely unfamiliar position of goal defence, the match won in dramatic fashion by the Pulse with a last-gasp super shot against the Magic. ``I did not get much sleep the night before but it was so exciting,'' she said. ``I was very nervous, especially coming up against Ameliaranne (Ekenasio) who I've grown up watching but it was so cool. It was such a team effort and they all backed me to do my job, so I just went on confident but nervous. ``It's been a hectic ride but it's just been amazing. Obviously, I was apprehensive moving to Wellington because I just didn't know what to expect. I was excited but I thought it could go terribly. But I have just loved it. The coaching, the city, the team……I think the team culture here is just amazing. ``I'm very much a family person and coming here, you just automatically get a family in your team and that's been fantastic. There's been lots of learnings, lots of steep learning curves but everyone's very supportive and encouraging, so it's been a fun journey.'' Having switched from playing in the NNL, where netball is fitted in around work or study, to full immersion and the expectations of what's required at ANZ Premiership level, Balmer is living the dream. ``Coming into the ANZ Premiership, everything is about performance and netball, so that's what your sole focus is and you're paid to do it,'' she said. ``It has just exceeded all my expectations. It's like being with a fun group of people all day every day playing the sport you love.'' Due to illness and injury, the Pulse have had to dig deep into their resource well at various times which has meant tinkering with line-ups and some players covering several positions, including the invaluable contribution Gabi Simpson has provided the team. Dropping her life in Brisbane to accommodate the Pulse in their hour of need, the former Diamond has gained universal admiration for her professionalism and adaptability, seamlessly stepping into goal defence and centre, positions she has not played much of at the elite level, and her more familiar wing defence role. ``I could literally talk on Gabi all day,'' Balmer said. ``I have so much respect for her. She can play pretty much any position you put her in and also she's just one of the wisest people that I've met. ``We do lots of coffee dates where I just question her all the time. She is so respected in this group because she just brings such knowledge and wisdom but is so humble with it. She's always very team focused and will do anything for the team, and is such a selfless player.''
