Jhansi: Fifteen-year-old Ketan Kushwaha from Jhansi captained India to a commanding 3-1 victory over Pakistan in the final of the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, Oman, on Saturday, helping the team clinch the gold medal in style.Hockey5s, introduced in recent years as a shorter and more dynamic version of traditional field hockey, features five players on each side, boundary boards that keep the ball in play, and a faster style of competition designed to enhance spectator appeal.India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, underlining its dominance in the fast-paced five-a-side format of the game. The goals in the final were scored by Romit Pal, captain Ketan Kushwaha and Shahrukh Ali.Ketan emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers, scoring 18 goals and earning the prestigious Player of the Championship award for his exceptional performances.This marks yet another milestone for the young forward, who has already enjoyed success as captain of India’s Under-18 side. Earlier, he led the junior national team to the Asia Cup title, where India defeated Japan 4-1 in the final.Hailing from the historic Bara Bazar area of Jhansi, Ketan comes from a humble family background. He is the youngest of four siblings. His father, Dilip Kushwaha, works as an electrician, while his mother is a homemaker.According to his coach, former international hockey player Subodh Khandekar, Ketan’s rise has been remarkable. He was inducted into the Indian Hockey League at the age of 14, making him the youngest player to achieve the feat. Hockey runs deep in the family, with his elder brothers also pursuing the sport. His brother Rohit currently trains at the Sports Hostel in Varanasi.“Ketan’s achievement is a matter of immense pride for Jhansi, the city associated with hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand. He is consistently bringing laurels to the country and the city at the international level. We have great expectations from him in the years ahead,” Khandekar said.With his leadership, goal-scoring prowess and rapid rise through the ranks, Ketan has emerged as one of Indian hockey’s most promising young talents and a new sporting icon for Bundelkhand.
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