U-18 Asia Cup 2026: Indian Hockey Squads Head to Japan

New Delhi's airports buzzed with excitement as India's Under-18 men's and women's hockey teams boarded flights bound for Japan. The continental championship runs from May 29 to June 6 in Kakamigahara, offering young players a vital platform to showcase talent and gain international exposure. After an intensive month-long national camp at Bhopal's Udhaw Das Mehta Centre, the squads fine-tuned strategies and built match fitness. The men trained under Sardar Singh and Rajneesh Mishra, while Rani Rampal mentored the women. Four warm-up games against Australia helped both teams measure progress; the men split results evenly while the women closed their series with a strong win. In Pool A, the men's team faces Kazakhstan, hosts Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei. Ketan Kushwaha's side kicks off against Kazakhstan on May 29. The women's unit, led by Swati Kuzur, starts against Malaysia on May 30 and will also meet Korea and Singapore. Only the top two teams from each pool reach the June 5 semifinals. Speaking before departure, Kushwaha highlighted the honor of wearing national colors and the lessons learned from the Australian series. Both squads now carry renewed confidence as they prepare to challenge Asia's strongest junior programs in pursuit of continental glory.