India achieved a sensational golden double at the Junior Hockey Asia Cup on Sunday, as both the men’s and women’s teams crowned themselves continental champions and secured qualification for their respective Junior World Cups.

The exhilarating day of championship action kicked off with the women’s final, where India battled to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over China. Sanika Chandrakant Mane emerged as the match-winner, delivering the decisive blow in the 17th minute by finding open space inside the Chinese circle and expertly executing a clever deflection into the net. Although China controlled significant periods of possession, India’s impeccably organized defensive wall refused to break. China’s solitary penalty corner threat was overturned after the ball crossed into the net above the permitted height, allowing India to hold firm through a nail-biting second half and lock down their third consecutive Junior Asia Cup title.

Historic Quadruple Triumph for Men’s Squad

Building on the momentum of the women’s victory, the Indian men’s team delivered a masterclass in the subsequent final, charging to a dominant 4-1 triumph over South Korea. Ajeet Yadav sparked the celebration early, opening the scoring in the ninth minute. India pushed their advantage relentlessly, striking twice more to construct a commanding 3-0 cushion before the half-time whistle.

In the final quarter, Ashu Maurya put the match further out of reach by converting a crisp penalty corner. South Korea managed to pull back a late consolation goal, but India comfortably saw out the remaining minutes. The victory etched India into the record books as the first team in history to win four consecutive men’s Junior Asia Cup titles. This victory marks India’s sixth overall trophy in the men’s tournament, adding to their previous continental triumphs in 2015, 2023, and 2024.

Dominant Path to Continental Glory and Cash Rewards

India’s men reached the summit through an unbeaten campaign, topping their group with three victories and a draw before overpowering Malaysia 3-1 in the semi-finals. South Korea had set up the summit clash by defeating Pakistan 4-1 in the other semi-final battle, while Pakistan subsequently claimed the bronze medal with a 4-2 win against Malaysia.

To honor this unprecedented double triumph, Hockey India announced financial incentives for the victorious contingents. Every player from both the men’s and women’s championship-winning squads will receive Rs 3 lakh, while each member of the support staff will be awarded Rs 1.5 lakh for their instrumental contribution to India’s historic Asian dominance.