Asian Youth Hockey5s Championship:
Historic bronze sends unbeaten Iran into U18 Hockey5s World Cup
Iran’s men’s under-18 team made history by winning the country’s first-ever field hockey medal at the Asian Youth Hockey5s Championship in Muscat, Oman, securing a bronze medal and a maiden qualification for the 2026 FIH Hockey5s U18 World Cup.
Iran defeated Bangladesh 4-2 in the third-place playoff on Sunday, capping an unbeaten campaign with a landmark victory.
Ashkan Zolfaqarkhaniyan starred for Iran, scoring a hat-trick and earning the Player of the Match award, while Alireza Taqitash added the fourth goal.
The result marked a watershed moment for Iranian hockey, with the bronze medal becoming the nation’s first podium finish in the 54-year history of the Iran Hockey Federation.
The victory also secured Iran’s first-ever berth at a Hockey5s World Cup, underlining the rapid progress of the country’s youth program.
Iran completed the tournament without suffering a single defeat, beating Iraq and Saudi Arabia twice each in the Men’s Challenger event before overcoming Oman in a shootout in the Men’s Qualifier earlier on Saturday.
The historic achievement is expected to boost the profile of field hockey in Iran as the team prepares to make its debut on the world stage.
India defeated archrival Pakistan 3-1 in the final to claim the men’s title.
Meanwhile, Iran’s U18 women’s team finished fourth in the Women’s Elite event after suffering back-to-back 9-0 defeats to China in the semifinals and Kazakhstan in the bronze-medal match. China claimed the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.