Indian sub-junior hockey teams eye WC berths at Youth Hockey5s event
New Delhi, July 19: The Indian sub-junior men’s and women’s teams will begin their campaign in the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat on Monday, aiming to secure berths in the maiden FIH U-18 Youth Hockey5s World Cup. The six-day tournament will serve as the Asian qualifier for the inaugural FIH U-18 Youth Hockey5s World Cup. The Indian sub-junior men’s team, coached by Sardar Singh, heads into the tournament with confidence after clinching the U18 Asia Cup title, defeating hosts Japan 4-1 in the final. The squad comprises players from the gold medal-winning campaign and has been placed alongside hosts Oman, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Elite Pool. “The players have earned this opportunity with their outstanding performance at the U18 Asia Cup, and the confidence from winning the title will certainly help us. However, Hockey5s is a unique format that demands quick decision-making, high intensity and adaptability,” Singh said in a release. “The boys have prepared well for these challenges, and our focus will be on executing our plans, maintaining consistency and securing qualification for the inaugural FIH U18 Youth Hockey5s World Cup. We are excited to compete against some of Asia’s best young teams and represent India with pride.” The Indian sub-junior women’s team, coached by Rani Rampal, features players who secured the bronze medal at the U18 Asia Cup. The team has been drawn in the Elite Pool with China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The Elite Pool follows a double round-robin format, with each team playing against the other twice. The top two teams at the end of the league stage will advance directly to the gold medal match, while the third-placed team will qualify directly for the bronze medal match. (PTI)
Kajal bags gold, Antim Neha clinches silver in Budapest Ranking Series
Budapest, July 19: Reigning U20 world champion wrestler Kajal clinched the women’s 76kg category gold with a commanding performance in the Budapest Ranking Series here. Facing USA’s Dymond Precious Guilford in a gripping gold medal clash, the young Indian wrestler exhibited immense tactical composure under pressure. The high-stakes encounter ended in a 3-3 deadlock, but Kajal held her nerve to clinch the championship on criteria, securing India’s third gold medal of the tournament. India added two silver medals to its haul through strong campaigns in the 53kg and 57kg weight divisions. In the 53kg championship final, Antim Panghal was forced to settle for silver after conceding her gold medal bout against Sweden’s Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren due to an injury (VIN). Meanwhile, in the 57kg category, Neha Sharma put together an impressive run to reach the final. Facing a formidable opponent in China’s Kexin Hong in the title clash, Sharma fought valiantly but sustained a 0-4 defeat on points to finish second. India secured an additional podium finish in the 53kg division as Nishu claimed a hard-fought bronze medal. In a fiercely contested tactical battle against Romania’s Andrea Beatrice Ana, Nishu displayed immense defensive resilience. The bout ended in a 2-2 tie, but the Indian wrestler was declared the winner on criteria (VPO1) to secure her spot on the podium. Now, India have accumulated an impressive 12 medals at the tournament, comprising three gold, four silver, and five bronze medals. (PTI)
