New Delhi, July 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India sub-junior women’s hockey team coach Rani Rampal said the silver medal at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship has given the young players valuable experience, even though the team had entered the tournament with hopes of winning gold.
India finished runners-up after losing 2-4 to China in the final held in Muscat, Oman, on Saturday. The impressive campaign, however, helped the Indian team secure qualification for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
“Proud of our U-18 team for winning at the Hockey 5s Asian Championship 2026 in Oman and qualifying for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey 5s World Cup. We came for gold, but this final gave our young players something equally valuable, experience under the pressure of a championship match,” Rani wrote on X.
She said the team’s focus would remain on continuous improvement, discipline and commitment while representing the country.
“Winning a medal for India is always an honour, but my standards have never been defined by medals alone. Discipline. Dedication. Honesty. Commitment. Team spirit. Humility. Work ethic. And always putting India first,” she added.
In the final, China made a dominant start, with Tongtong Lu scoring in the opening minute before Kexin Tang and Jiaxin Guo extended the lead to 3-0. India fought back after the break, with Nousheen Naz scoring in the 13th minute.
China restored its three-goal advantage through Chen Ge in the 19th minute, while Pushpa Manjhi reduced the margin again in the 20th minute. However, China held on to win the title with a 4-2 victory.
Recognising the team’s performance, Hockey India announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for each player and Rs 50,000 for each support staff member of the Indian women’s team for their achievement.
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