Muscat, 26 July (H.S.): The Indian sub-junior men's hockey team clinched the title at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asia Championship 2026 after defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 in the final to secure the gold medal.

Meanwhile, the Indian sub-junior women's team added to the country's success by winning the silver medal after going down to China in a closely contested final.

India dominated the men's final from the outset with an attacking display. Romit Pal opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the first half to give India a 1-0 lead. Captain Ketan Kushwaha doubled the advantage in the 12th minute, and just a minute later, Shah Rukh Ali found the net to extend India's lead to 3-0.

Pakistan attempted a comeback when Muhammad Usman scored in the 16th minute, but India's defence remained resolute and denied their opponents any further opportunities, sealing a convincing 3-1 victory to lift the championship trophy.

The Indian men's team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, finishing at the top of the Elite Pool before winning the final to be crowned Asian champions.

By reaching the final, both India and Pakistan also qualified for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.

In the women's competition, the Indian sub-junior team also enjoyed an impressive campaign, advancing to the final before suffering defeat against China in the title clash. Despite the loss, the team secured the silver medal, adding another achievement to India's campaign.

Following the outstanding performances of both teams, Hockey India announced cash rewards for the players and support staff.

Each player of the gold medal-winning men's team will receive ₹2 lakh, while every member of the support staff will be awarded ₹1 lakh.

Each player of the silver medal-winning women's team will receive ₹1 lakh, and every member of the support staff will be given ₹50,000 in recognition of their achievement.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar