The Indian Women's Hockey Team ended their campaign at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship with a silver medal after a 2-4 loss to China in the final held on Saturday in Muscat, Oman. Despite the defeat, the team's overall performance earned them a spot at the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
Final: China's Early Flurry Decides Contest
China made a blistering start, scoring three goals in the opening six minutes. Tongtong Lu struck in the first minute, Kexin Tang doubled the lead in the 5th minute, and Jiaxin Guo made it 3-0 just a minute later. India regrouped during the break and came out stronger in the second half. Nousheen Naz pulled one back in the 13th minute, reducing the deficit to 3-1. Chen Ge restored China's three-goal lead in the 19th minute, but Pushpa Manjhi scored in the 20th minute to give India a glimmer of hope. China, however, held on to win 4-2.
Semi-Final: India Overwhelms Kazakhstan 8-1
India secured their place in the final with a dominant 8-1 victory over Kazakhstan in the semi-final. The scoring began in the 5th minute with Sandeepa Kumari finding the net. Pushpa Manjhi struck in the 6th minute and added two more goals in the 8th minute to put India 3-0 ahead. Ayanat Mazhim scored for Kazakhstan in the 10th minute, but India responded emphatically. Captain Diya scored twice in the 13th and 16th minutes, Shruti Kumari added a goal in the 16th minute, and Nousheen Naz completed the scoring in the 20th minute to seal an 8-1 win.
Recognition and World Cup Berth
In recognition of the team's achievement, Hockey India announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for each player and Rs 50,000 for each support staff member. The silver medal also marks a significant milestone for the young squad, as they have now qualified for the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, providing a platform to compete on the global stage.
