Day two of the 2026 Women’s Asian Hockey5s in Muscat, Oman, saw India and China maintain their unbeaten records in the Elite Pool, while Iran continued its strong performance in the Challenger Pool. The tournament, which serves as an Asian qualifier for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, featured several competitive matches.
The day’s action commenced with Iran securing a decisive 11–0 victory over hosts Oman. Abedinifar Setareh of Iran was recognised as the Player of the Match for her performance in this opening game. This win set the tone for Iran’s continued success in the Challenger Pool.
In the Elite Pool, a significant match unfolded between China and India, resulting in a 2–2 draw. Both teams demonstrated strong offensive play and solid defence throughout the encounter. NAZ Nousheen from India received the Player of the Match award for her contributions. This draw meant both teams shared points in a closely contested fixture.
Later in the day, Iran secured its second win of the tournament by defeating Pakistan 4–1 in the Challenger Pool. This victory further solidified Iran’s position at the top of the standings. Zarebidoki Setayesh was named Player of the Match for her exceptional display in this game.
India returned to the field for their second match of the day, delivering a dominant 16–0 performance against Uzbekistan in the Elite Pool. This marked the largest victory of the tournament so far, with India showcasing consistent attacking pressure from the outset. KUMARI Sandeepa was awarded Player of the Match for her overall contribution to India’s win.
The final match of the day saw China extend its unbeaten run with a 5–1 win over Kazakhstan. This composed team effort earned China another three points. LU Tongtong was recognised as the Player of the Match for her outstanding performance in this fixture.
Following the conclusion of day two, India and China are level on seven points at the top of the Elite Pool, with their positions separated only by goal difference. Iran leads the Challenger Pool with six points, having secured two consecutive victories.
Indian Sub-Junior Teams’ Performance
The Indian Sub-Junior Men’s and Women’s Teams also had a productive day at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026 in Muscat. The men’s team achieved victories against Oman and Pakistan, while the women’s team drew with China before defeating Uzbekistan.
The Indian Sub-Junior Men’s Team recorded a 7–4 victory over Pakistan. Karan Gautam scored a hat-trick, contributing to the team’s success. Other goal scorers for India included Rahul Yadav, Prahalad Rajbhar, Captain Ketan Kushwaha, and Romit Pal. For Pakistan, Aslam Muhammad Farhan, Adeel, and Usman Muhammad found the back of the net.
Earlier, the men’s team had secured a comprehensive 14–0 win against hosts Oman. Captain Ketan Kushwaha was a key player, scoring four goals. Ashish Tani Purti also contributed with a hat-trick. Rahul Yadav and Shahrukh Ali each scored two goals, while Prahalad Rajbhar, Karan Gautam, and Romit Pal also added to the scoreline in a dominant team effort.
The Indian Sub-Junior Women’s Team commenced their day with a 2–2 draw against China in their second Elite Pool fixture. Chen Ge initially gave China the lead. India mounted a comeback with Nousheen Naz scoring twice in quick succession to put her team ahead. However, Jiaxin Guo scored a late equaliser for China, resulting in both teams sharing a point.
The women’s team concluded their day with a commanding 16–0 victory over Uzbekistan. Nousheen Naz was a prominent scorer with four goals. Sandeepa Kumari and Captain Sweety Kujur each netted hat-tricks. Diya and Pushpa Manjhi scored two goals apiece, and Kiran Ekka and Nilam Topno also contributed to India’s score. The tournament continues in Muscat as teams compete for semi-final spots and qualification to the FIH Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2026.
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Source: asiahockey.org
