FIH Youth Hockey5s: Indian men beat Pakistan to become Asian champions, women bag silver
Muscat, July 26
The Indian Sub-Junior men's team produced a clinical performance to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 in the gold medal match of the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship.
Goals from Romit Pal (5'), captain Ketan Kushwaha (12'), and Shahrukh Ali (13') crowned India as the Asian champions. With this victory, the Indian Men's team completed a dominant, unbeaten campaign, having also finished at the top of the Elite Pool table.
The summit clash saw India take early control with sharp passing and disciplined structure. Romit Pal (5') broke the deadlock in the first half, striking past the Pakistani goalkeeper to give India a 1-0 lead at half-time.
India extended their dominance early in the second half as captain Ketan Kushwaha (12') found the back of the net, followed immediately by a strike from Shahrukh Ali (13') to make it 3-0. Pakistan pulled one goal back through Muhammad Usman (16'), but the Indian defense stood firm in the closing minutes to secure a 3-1 win and lift the trophy.
By virtue of reaching the final, both India and Pakistan have qualified for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
In the women's competition, the Indian sub-junior women's team bagged the silver medal after a hard-fought contest in their final against China, ensuring both Indian contingents return home with medals.
Celebrating the stellar performances of both squads, Hockey India announced cash rewards for the teams. Each player of the gold medal-winning men's team will be rewarded with Rs 2 lakhs, while each member of the support staff will receive Rs 1 lakh.
Additionally, each player of the silver medal-winning Indian women's team will receive Rs 1 lakh, with Rs 50,000 awarded to each member of their support staff.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Love seeing hockey getting such attention at the youth level. But I wish the women's team had also won gold—they fought hard but fell short against China. Still, silver is a great achievement. Both teams have qualified for the Youth World Cup, which is the real prize. Let's hope the government continues to support hockey beyond just cricket!
Pakistan-India hockey final always brings back memories of the golden days. These young boys played with such maturity! Romit Pal, Ketan Kushwaha, Shahrukh Ali—remember these names, they are the future stars. The 3-0 lead and then holding off Pakistan's fightback shows real character. Well done, boys! 👏
A well-deserved gold for the men's team, but why is there such a gap in cash rewards between men and women? Rs 2 lakhs for men vs Rs 1 lakh for women—both teams worked equally hard. This needs to be addressed. Women's hockey in India has been on the rise, and they deserve equal recognition. Still, congratulations to both teams for making us proud! 🇮🇳
So happy to see Indian hockey thriving again! These sub-junior players are barely in their teens and already performing under pressure in a big final. The Youth Hockey5s format is fast and exciting—perfect for young athletes. Also, qualifying for the inaugural Youth World Cup is huge. This will inspire thousands of kids to pick up a hockey stick. 🏑🌟
Impressive stuff from India's youth teams. I've been following sub-junior hockey and this group has been dominant all year.
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