India Defeat Pakistan 7-3 in Thrilling Hockey5s League Match, Set Up Final Clash
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
India produced a dominant performance to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan 7-3 in their final league-stage match of the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026 in Muscat, Oman. The victory helped India finish the league stage on a high and secure a place in the tournament final, where they will once again face Pakistan.
India Make a Flying Start
India controlled the contest from the opening whistle and raced to a 3-0 lead by halftime. Romit Pal opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Karan Gautam doubled the advantage. Captain Ketan Kushwaha added India’s third goal just before the break, giving his side complete control of the match.
Strong Second-Half Display
India continued their attacking momentum after halftime as Prahalad Rajbhar extended the lead to 4-0. Pakistan attempted a comeback through goals from Muhammad Usman and captain Adeel, but India responded every time.
Shahrukh Ali, Rahul Yadav, and Ketan Kushwaha added further goals to complete an impressive 7-3 victory. India’s fast passing, quick counterattacks, and clinical finishing proved too much for Pakistan throughout the match.
Earlier Win Over Oman
Before facing Pakistan, India had already delivered another outstanding performance by defeating hosts Oman 10-1. Captain Ketan Kushwaha starred with four goals, while Shahrukh Ali, Karan Gautam, and Prahalad Rajbhar also made significant contributions in a commanding team display.
Final Awaits
Despite the league-stage defeat, Pakistan also qualified for the championship match based on the tournament standings. The two traditional rivals will now meet again in the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship 2026 Final, with the title at stake. The tournament also serves as the Asian qualifying event for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
India vs Pakistan League Match Score Summary
- Result: India 7-3 Pakistan
- Halftime: India 3-0 Pakistan
- India Goals: Romit Pal (8′), Karan Gautam (10′), Ketan Kushwaha (10′, 20′), Prahalad Rajbhar (12′), Shahrukh Ali (16′), Rahul Yadav (18′)
- Pakistan Goals: Muhammad Usman (12′, 15′), Adeel (17′)
