Junior Men’s Hockey Side Aims for Fifth Consecutive Asian Crown

India’s junior men’s hockey team enters the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 in Moki as the defending champions, having secured the continental title five times, including the three most recent editions. Captain Anmol Akka leads a squad coached by Frederick Soyez, whose objective is to begin his tenure with another championship.

The men’s preparation itinerary featured a European exposure tour, where they faced strong U‑21 sides from Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. They also played a series of home friendlies against Malaysia U‑21 in Bengaluru and a three‑match series in Dalian against host China, enhancing their tactical and technical readiness.

Coach Soyez praised the team’s progress, especially after a positive performance against China, which raised confidence ahead of the tournament. He noted that the squad spent a week in Dalian before arriving in Moki to acclimatise to local conditions.

India’s pool A fixtures start with a match against Indonesia on September 5, continue with Japan on September 6, South Korea on September 8 and culminate with a clash against Chinese Taipei on September 9. The team’s aim is to maintain a strong defensive structure, build confidence and elevate performance with each game.