India Stay Unbeaten! Men and Women Dominate at FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026

Brief By Newsbrief / 11:36 AM on 24 Jul 2026

India's Sub-Junior Women's and Men's Hockey teams continued their impressive unbeaten run at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026 in Muscat, Oman, registering commanding victories to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.

The Indian women's team produced a flawless performance, crushing Kazakhstan 10-0 in a completely one-sided contest. Nausheen Naz gave India a flying start with two goals in the opening minute before finishing the match with four goals. Sandeepa Kumari starred with a brilliant hat-trick and was named Player of the Match. Kiran Ekka, Neelam Topno, and Pushpa Manjhi also found the net as India showcased exceptional attacking play, quick passing, and excellent teamwork throughout the game.

The men's team faced a tougher challenge against Bangladesh but emerged victorious with an 8-3 win. India held a narrow 3-2 lead at halftime after captain Ketan Kushwaha scored twice and Shah Rukh Ali added another goal. Bangladesh stayed in the contest through goals from Mohammad Hossain and Sohrab Soton.

In the second half, India took complete control of the match. Ketan Kushwaha added two more goals to complete a superb four-goal haul and earned the Player of the Match award. Romit Pal, Prahlad Rajbhar, and Rahul Yadav also scored to seal an emphatic victory, while Bangladesh managed only one additional goal through Sohrab Soton.

India's women's team will next face China and Uzbekistan, while the men's team is set to take on hosts Oman and arch-rivals Pakistan. With the tournament also serving as the Asian qualifier for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, every match is crucial. Based on their performances so far, both Indian teams have emerged as strong contenders for a place in the World Cup and the championship title.