India men replicate women's triumph, win 4th consecutive junior hockey Asia Cup title to qualify for World Cup

India completed a remarkable double sweep in Moqi, China, on September 13, defeating South Korea 4-1 in the final to secure their fourth consecutive Men’s Junior Hockey Asia Cup championship. The triumph capped off a dominant day for Indian hockey, coming just hours after the nation's junior women’s team earned their own third straight continental crown with a tense 1-0 victory over the host nation. With the victory, the Indian junior men also officially punched their ticket to next year's FIH Junior World Cup.

The title match opened with an explosive first quarter for India, as captain Anmol Ekka and Ajeet Yadav both found the back of the net to build an early advantage. Prabhdeep Singh extended the buffer in the second period, keeping India firmly in control heading into the second half.

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Ashu Maurya effectively sealed the championship with a 50th-minute strike to make it 4-0. South Korea captain Lee Minhyeok managed to pull one back four minutes later, but it proved to be nothing more than a late consolation goal as India comfortably closed out the final.

India's march to the championship match came on the back of an impressive group-stage performance, where three wins and a draw were enough to top the standings, edging out second-placed South Korea by a single point. In the semifinals, India booked their place in the final with a convincing 3-1 victory over Malaysia, while South Korea comfortably dispatched Pakistan 4-1 in the other bracket.

To honor the championship run, Hockey India announced financial rewards for the victorious squad and its coaching setup. Under the cash prize scheme, every player on the team is set to receive ₹3 lakh, while members of the support staff will be awarded ₹1.5 lakh each.