New Delhi, July 26: Indian hockey coaches Sardar Singh and Rani Rampal hailed the determination, discipline, and fearless approach shown by India's young hockey stars after the Indian Sub-Junior Men's Team clinched the Gold Medal and the Indian Sub-Junior Women's Team secured the Silver Medal at the inaugural AHF Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026.
Both impressive campaigns also secured India's place at the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, highlighting the nation's rapid rise as a force in the shorter and more dynamic version of the sport. Under the guidance of Sardar Singh, the Indian Sub-Junior Men's Team produced a perfect tournament, winning all seven matches to be crowned the first-ever AHF Youth Hockey5s Asian champions.
India
opened their campaign with back-to-back victories over Bangladesh (7-3 and 8-3) before dismantling hosts Oman 14-0 and 10-1 in another dominant double-header. They maintained their unbeaten run by defeating Pakistan twice in the Elite Pool, recording convincing 7-4 and 7-3 wins, before overcoming the same opponents 3-1 in the final to complete an unbeaten title-winning run and etch their names into the history books.
"I Am Immensely Proud"- Sardar Singh On Men's Triumph
Speaking on the men's triumph, Coach Sardar Singh said, "I am immensely proud of the character and commitment shown by every player throughout the tournament. Winning all our matches, including three victories against Pakistan, reflects the hard work the boys have put in over the past few months. This gold medal and qualification for the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup are richly deserved and will give these youngsters tremendous confidence for the future. "
Sardar also expressed his gratitude to Hockey India for its continued investment in the development of young players and for providing them with every opportunity to succeed. He further thanked Punjab University for hosting the national coaching camp and offering world-class training facilities, adding that the outstanding infrastructure and support created the ideal environment for the team's preparation and played a key role in India's successful campaign in Muscat.
Indian Sub-Junior Women's Team Shine Under Rani's Guidance
The Indian Sub-Junior Women's Team, led by head coach Rani, also enjoyed an outstanding tournament, finishing as runners-up after a series of impressive performances. India began with commanding victories over Kazakhstan (8-3 and 10-0) before overwhelming Uzbekistan 16-0 and 10-0 in successive matches.
The team also played out a 2-2 draw against China in the league phase before suffering a 6-3 defeat to the same opponents. Undeterred, the young Indian side bounced back emphatically, thrashing Kazakhstan 8-1 in the semi-final to secure a place in the championship match. Although they fell 4-2 to China in the final, the Silver medal capped off a memorable campaign and confirmed India's qualification for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
Sharing her thoughts after the tournament, Rani commended the players for their composure and determination while highlighting the long-term value of the experience.
"I am incredibly proud of the way the girls approached every match. Finishing runners-up in the inaugural championship and securing qualification for the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup is a fantastic achievement for such a young team. Of course, we were aiming for the Gold medal, but reaching our first international final is an important milestone. The experience of competing under pressure on the biggest stage will only help these players mature, build confidence, and prepare them for even greater challenges in the future," she said.
"I would like to thank Hockey India for its unwavering support towards the development of young players and for ensuring that the team had the best possible preparation. I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Madhya Pradesh for hosting our national coaching camp at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy in Bhopal," she concluded.
