Indian sub-junior (U-18) men and women teams won the gold and silver medal respectively in the inaugural Asian Youth Hockey5s Championship, which was held in Muscat, Oman from 20 to 25 July 2026. In the finals yesterday, Indian sub-junior men crushed Pakistan 3-1, while their women counterpart lost to China 2-4.
Both the Indian teams qualified for the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup 2026. The Indian sub-junior women team featured two players from Odisha. They were: defender Kiran Ekka and forward as well as captain Sweety Kujur. But no player from Odisha could get a berth in the Indian sub-junior men team.
Hockey India announced cash rewards for both the teams. Each player of the gold medal-winning Indian mens team will be rewarded with Rs 2 lakh, while each member of the support staff will receive Rs 1 lakh.
On the other hand, each player of the silver medal-winning Indian womens team will receive Rs 1 lakh, with Rs 50,000 will be awarded to each member of their support staff.
PERFORMANCE OF INDIAN YOUTH MEN TEAM:
20 July (League match): India beat Bangladesh 7-3.
21 July (League match): India beat Oman 14-0.
21 July (League match): India beat Pakistan 7-4.
23 July (League match): India beat Bangladesh 8-3.
24 July (League match): India beat Oman 10-1.
24 July (League match): India beat Pakistan 7-3.
25 July (Final): India beat Pakistan 3-1.
PERFORMANCE OF INDIAN YOUTH WOMEN TEAM:
20 July (League match): India beat Kazakhstan 8-3.
21 July (League match): India drew with China 2-2.
21 July (League match): India beat Uzbekistan 16-0.
23 July (League match): India beat Kazakhstan 10-0.
24 July (League match): India lost to China 3-6.
24 July (League match): India Uzbekistan 10-0.
25 July (Semifinal): India beat Kazakhstan 8-1.
25 July (Final): India lost to China 2-4.
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PHOTO: Players of the Indian sub-junior women team pose after finishing runners-up at the Asian Youth Hockey5s Championship in Muscat, Oman.