Muscat (Oman), July 2026 : India’s sub-junior men’s and women’s teams continued their impressive run at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026 with commanding victories on Thursday, remaining unbeaten in their respective Elite Pools and strengthening their hopes of qualifying for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
The Indian women’s team produced a flawless display, thrashing Kazakhstan 10-0 in a one-sided contest. Having already defeated the same opponents in their opening match, the young Indian side once again showcased its attacking prowess and defensive discipline to register another emphatic victory.
India seized control from the opening whistle as Nousheen Naz struck twice within the first minute, giving her side a dream start and a 2-0 lead by halftime. The second half witnessed an even more dominant performance, with the Indian forwards relentlessly attacking the Kazakhstan defence.
Player of the Match Sandeepa Kumari starred with a brilliant hat-trick, finding the net in the 11th, 16th and 18th minutes. Nousheen Naz bettered that feat by scoring four goals, adding strikes in the 15th and 20th minutes to her two early goals. Kiran Ekka, Nilam Topno and Pushpa Manjhi also got on the scoresheet as India completed a comprehensive 10-goal rout without conceding.
The Indian men’s team also maintained its unbeaten record, overcoming Bangladesh 8-3 in an entertaining contest. Although Bangladesh challenged India during the opening half, the Indian side gradually took control with a clinical attacking display after the break.
Captain Ketan Kushwaha led from the front with a four-goal performance to earn the Player of the Match award. He scored twice in the first half before adding two more goals in the second period. Shahrukh Ali opened India’s account early, while Romit Pal, Prahalad Rajbhar and Rahul Yadav also contributed with one goal each.
Bangladesh remained competitive in the first half through strikes from Md Hosen and Sohorab Soton, trailing only 3-2 at the interval. Soton added another goal after the restart, but India’s superior pace and finishing ensured there was no comeback as the young side powered to an 8-3 victory.
The twin victories reinforce India’s status as one of the strongest contenders in both the men’s and women’s competitions. The teams have displayed impressive coordination, aggressive attacking hockey and solid defensive organisation throughout the tournament.
India’s women will continue their campaign on July 24 with matches against China and Uzbekistan, while the men’s team faces two crucial fixtures against hosts Oman and traditional rivals Pakistan.
The FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026 serves as the qualifying tournament for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, making every group-stage encounter significant. With consecutive victories and strong goal-scoring form, both Indian teams are well placed to progress deep into the competition and keep their World Cup qualification hopes firmly on track.
