KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Dec 12, (Agencies): It was fate that Araijeet Singh Hundal picked up a hockey stick; flair that got him into the junior India team and finesse turned him into a star in a famous win in the second quarter-final of the FIH Men's Hockey Junior World Cup 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today.

The Indian Colts produced a stunning fightback from 2-0 down to beat the Netherlands 4-3 in the ongoing FIH Men's Hockey Junior World Cup and progress to the semi-finals. India scored twice in the fourth quarter, turning a deficit into a lead for the little time that remained. The three-time finalists then found themselves trailing 2-0 soon after the restart for the second quarter -- this time Pepijn van der Heijden threading a brilliant penalty corner conversion in the 16th following a spate of opportunities.

The 18-year-old 6-foot-3-inch tall forward, born into a family of hockey players, was the goalscorer and provider as he launched India’s comeback in a thrilling Junior World Cup quarterfinal, in which India scored a late winner to beat the Netherlands 4-3 and set-up a semifinal clash against Germany on Thursday.

India fought back in the third quarter thanks to Aditya Lalage's goal -- a sublime finish, flicking the ball over the advancing Dutch goalkeeper, in the 34th. Within seconds, it became 2-2 with Araijeet Hundal converting his penalty stroke, one that was earned by Sunil Jojo following a dangerous play from Boris Aardenburg. India did concede the lead again as Van der Heijden sounded the plank from a drag-flick retake in the 44th.

After three goals in the third quarter, both sides increased the tempo at the Malaysia National Hockey Stadium.

India, on the counter, found the equalizer in the 52nd minute through a cool finish from Sourabh Kushwaha, who only needed to slot home after a rebound. And within minutes, India took the lead for the first time in the match. With three minutes remaining to the final hooter, India won back-to-back PCs and one Vishnukanth injection saw Boby Singh Dhami relaying to an opportunistic India captain Uttam Singh, who got a big enough deflection. 4-3, and the countdown began which ultimately ended with India winning the seven-goal thriller.

It’ll be a repeat of last edition’s semifinal in which Germany prevailed 4-2. While India went into that match two years ago on the back of a narrow win over Belgium, they will enter the last-four encounter on Thursday buzzing after a nail-biting quarterfinal that saw many match-winning performances.