India beat Pakistan 3-1 to win Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship gold
Synopsis
India's sub-junior men dismantled Pakistan 3-1 in Muscat to lift the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship — unbeaten throughout the tournament. The women added silver against China. Both teams have now punched their tickets to the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, signalling a new generation of Indian hockey talent arriving on the continental stage.
Key Takeaways
India defeated Pakistan 3-1 in the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship gold medal final in Muscat on 26 July .
Goals from Romit Pal (5') , captain Ketan Kushwaha (12') , and Shahrukh Ali (13') sealed the win.
India completed an unbeaten campaign , also finishing top of the Elite Pool table.
The Indian women's team won the silver medal , losing their final to China .
Both India and Pakistan have qualified for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup .
Hockey India announced ₹2 lakh per player for the men's gold squad and ₹1 lakh per player for the women's silver squad.
The Indian Sub-Junior men's hockey team clinched the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship title in Muscat on 26 July, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 in a commanding gold medal final. The victory capped an unbeaten campaign for India, who had also topped the Elite Pool table en route to the summit clash.
How India Won the Final
Romit Pal broke the deadlock in the 5th minute, striking past the Pakistani goalkeeper to hand India a 1-0 lead at half-time. The margin widened sharply in the second half as captain Ketan Kushwaha netted in the 12th minute, followed almost immediately by Shahrukh Ali in the 13th minute to make it 3-0. Muhammad Usman pulled one back for Pakistan in the 16th minute, but India's defence held firm to seal a 3-1 win.
World Cup Qualification Secured
By virtue of reaching the final, both India and Pakistan have qualified for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup — a significant milestone for both programmes. For India, the qualification comes on the back of a dominant, unbeaten run through the tournament, underlining the depth of the country's sub-junior pipeline.
Women's Team Claims Silver
The Indian Sub-Junior women's team also returned with hardware, winning the silver medal after a hard-fought final against China. The result ensures both Indian contingents depart Muscat with podium finishes, marking a strong continental showing for Indian hockey at the sub-junior level.
Hockey India Announces Cash Rewards
Hockey India announced cash rewards to celebrate the double-medal haul. Each player in the gold medal-winning men's squad will receive ₹2 lakh, while each support staff member will be awarded ₹1 lakh. Players in the silver medal-winning women's team will each receive ₹1 lakh, with ₹50,000 going to each member of their support staff. Notably, this is the latest in a series of cash incentive announcements by Hockey India aimed at motivating grassroots and sub-junior talent. With the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup on the horizon, both squads will look to build on this continental success.
Point of View
And India dominating its inaugural Asian championship positions the federation well ahead of the first-ever World Cup. The cash reward structure from Hockey India is also worth noting: incentivising sub-junior squads signals a deliberate shift toward rewarding early-stage talent, not just senior stars. Whether that translates into a sustained pipeline will depend on how many of these players are tracked and supported into the senior programme.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2025 men's title?
India won the men's title, defeating Pakistan 3-1 in the gold medal final held in Muscat on 26 July. Goals from Romit Pal, captain Ketan Kushwaha, and Shahrukh Ali secured the championship.
Who scored for India in the Hockey5s Asian Championship final against Pakistan?
Romit Pal scored in the 5th minute, captain Ketan Kushwaha in the 12th minute, and Shahrukh Ali in the 13th minute. Muhammad Usman scored Pakistan's consolation goal in the 16th minute.
How did India's women's team perform at the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship?
The Indian Sub-Junior women's team won the silver medal after losing their final to China. Both the men's and women's squads returned from Muscat with medals.
Have India qualified for the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup?
Yes. By reaching the final of the Asian Championship, both India and Pakistan have qualified for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
What cash rewards did Hockey India announce for the Asian Championship squads?
Hockey India announced ₹2 lakh per player and ₹1 lakh per support staff member for the gold medal-winning men's team. Each player in the silver medal-winning women's squad will receive ₹1 lakh, with ₹50,000 for their support staff members.
