Srinagar -The 69th National School Games 2025 Under-19 Boys Football Tournament witnessed a seismic day of action on Thursday as the quarter-final matches concluded, setting a thrilling stage for the semifinals. The host team, J&K, secured a hard-fought victory to cement their place in the final four, joining the dominant forces of Kerala, Manipur and Meghalaya.

The day commenced with pre-quarterfinal clashes where the stage was set for the knockout rounds. J&K, which is being coached by Real Kashmir coach Ishfaq Ahmad, delivered a commanding performance at the TRC Ground, defeating Maharashtra 2-0 with local talent Hanan Gul emerging as the standout performer.

Kerala showcased an offensive masterclass at the Kashmir University Ground, routing Chandigarh 6-0, while Meghalaya displayed exceptional control to overpower IBSSO 4-0. Other pre-quarterfinal wins were registered by Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Manipur, the latter marking a resounding 9-0 triumph over Chhattisgarh.

In the quarter-finals, Kerala advanced with a commanding 4-0 victory over Haryana. The winning goals were scored by Ajsal, Raseed, Shifil, and Sheril Thomas.

Manipur secured their semifinal berth in a nail-biting contest against Delhi, which was decided by a penalty shootout after a tense battle. Manipur held their nerve to clinch the win 5-4.

Meghalaya continued their impressive run by edging past a strong West Bengal side with a 2-1 scoreline. The decisive goals for Meghalaya were netted by Pynkmenglang Marbaniang and Kyrmenshhem Mukhim.

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