India and China remain unbeaten in Women's Asian H...

By Bilal Ahmed — 22 July 2026 — 3 min read

Elite Pool sees close contests and dominant wins

Day 2 of the 2026 Women’s Asian Hockey5s in Muscat, Oman, featured a series of engaging matches, with India and China maintaining their unbeaten records in the Elite Pool. The day’s action also saw Iran continue its strong performance in the Challenger Pool.

One of the most anticipated matches in the Elite Pool was the encounter between China and India, which resulted in a 2–2 draw. Both teams showcased high-quality attacking play and resilient defending throughout the contest. NAZ Nousheen of India was recognised as the Player of the Match for her significant contribution to her team’s performance.

Later in the evening, India returned to the field to face Uzbekistan, securing a substantial 16–0 victory. This dominant display highlighted India’s relentless attacking intent from the start of the match, marking the largest win of the tournament so far. KUMARI Sandeepa earned the Player of the Match award for her excellent all-round efforts in this fixture.

China also continued its unbeaten run, securing a 5–1 victory over Kazakhstan. This composed team performance added another three important points for China. LU Tongtong was named Player of the Match for her outstanding display in the match against Kazakhstan.

Following the conclusion of Day 2, both India and China are level on seven points at the top of the Elite Pool standings, with their positions separated only by goal difference. The tournament is a qualifier for the FIH Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2026, adding further significance to each match.

Iran’s continued dominance in the Challenger Pool

In the Challenger Pool, Iran demonstrated strong form, beginning the day with a commanding 11–0 victory against hosts Oman. Abedinifar Setareh was awarded the Player of the Match for her exceptional performance and clinical finishing during this match.

Iran secured its second victory of the tournament by defeating Pakistan 4–1. This win further extended Iran’s lead at the top of the Challenger Pool standings. Zarebidoki Setayesh delivered another exceptional performance and was deservedly named Player of the Match for her efforts against Pakistan.

With two consecutive victories, Iran now leads the Challenger Pool with six points. The team’s consistent performance has been a notable feature of the tournament’s early stages.

Indian Sub-Junior Men’s Team also sees success

The Indian Sub-Junior Men’s Team also had a productive day at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026, competing in Muscat, Oman. The men’s team achieved two significant victories, first defeating hosts Oman and then securing a win against Pakistan.

In their match against Oman, the men’s team registered a comprehensive 14–0 victory. Captain Ketan Kushwaha was a key player, scoring four goals. Ashish Tani Purti contributed with a hat-trick, while Rahul Yadav and Shahrukh Ali each scored two goals. Prahalad Rajbhar, Karan Gautam, and Romit Pal also found the back of the net in a dominant overall performance.

The Indian Sub-Junior Men’s Team continued their winning streak with an impressive 7–4 victory over Pakistan. Karan Gautam led the scoring with a hat-trick, while Rahul Yadav, Prahalad Rajbhar, Captain Ketan Kushwaha, and Romit Pal also contributed goals. Pakistan’s goals came from Aslam Muhammad Farhan, Adeel, and Usman Muhammad.

The tournament serves as the Asian qualifier for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, highlighting the importance of these early matches for all participating teams.

The tournament continues in Muscat as teams compete for semi-final berths and qualification to the FIH Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2026.