NEW DELHI : The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey team created history by winning the 2026 edition of the Junior Women’s Hockey Asia Cup. The Tim White-coached outfit won the tournament for the third time in a row after beating hosts China in the summit clash by a 1-0 margin at the Moqi Training Base on Sunday (September 13).
The sole goal in the summit clash for India was scored by Sanika Chandrakant Mane in the 17th minute of the game. She scored just two minutes after the second quarter began. After taking the lead, the Indians ensured the home team were unable to find the back of the net.
India remained unbeaten in the tournament after topping the Elite Pool. They finished tied on points with China but had a better goal difference. In the first round, the two teams played a 0-0 draw after India beat South Korea (4-1), Malaysia (11-1), and Japan (7-0).
Later in the quarter-finals, the Indian team put up a performance to remember and thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan 19-0. They won the semi-final with ease by a stunning 5-1 margin before the closely fought final against China.
The result also means that India as well as China, Japan, and South Korea have qualified for the 2027 Women’s Junior World Cup. For those unversed, the top four earned automatic qualification for next year’s global event.
India’s Third Consecutive Title
India have won the trophy for the third time, having also lifted it in 2023 and 2024. They now have the joint- second-most number of titles alongside China, who have also won the trophy thrice. Only South Korea has won the continental showpiece even more times (4), having been crowned champions in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2008.
The Indian men’s team are also playing the final of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup later today against South Korea.
