Asia Cup 2026: India U-18 Men’s & Women’s Hockey Team Eye For A Positive Start In Japan

The Indian U-18 men's and women's hockey teams begin their Asia Cup 2026 campaigns in Kakamigahara, Japan, from May 29 to June 6. Both squads arrive after long training camps in Bhopal and exposure matches against Australia, aiming for strong showings against Asia's leading junior teams.

The U-18 men's team is led by forward Ketan Kushwaha. They trained for a month at the Udhav Das Mehta Central Centre at SAI, Bhopal. Coaches Sardar Singh and Rajnish Mishra supervised the camp, which stressed tactics, fitness, and match practice against the visiting Australian U-18 side.

Men's warm-up results and tournament format

India's U-18 men played a four-match series against Australia. They recorded one win and one loss, with two draws. At the Asia Cup, India are in Pool A with Japan, Korea, Chinese

Taipei and Kazakhstan. The top two teams reach the semi-finals on June 5, before the June 6 final.

India open against Kazakhstan on May 29. They then face hosts Japan on May 31, followed by Korea on June 1. Their last Pool A match is against Chinese Taipei on June 3. Pool B contains Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China in the other group.

Captain Ketan Kushwaha said the squad feels ready. He said the Bhopal camp and the Australian series improved team play and showed focus areas. He expects every game to be competitive. He added that the players are motivated to perform well and make the country proud.

Women's pool fixtures in Japan

The Indian U-18 women's team is captained by Sweety Kujur. They completed a national camp in Bhopal under coach Rani. The camp worked on combinations, tactical awareness and fitness. The team also played four matches against Australia, finishing the series with a morale boosting victory.

India's U-18 women are drawn in Pool A with Malaysia, Korea and Singapore. Pool B has China, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Bangladesh. As in the men's event, the top two from each pool qualify for the semi-finals on June 5, followed by the final on June 6.

The Indian women start against Malaysia on May 30. They face Korea on May 31 in their second match. Their final group game is against Singapore on June 2. All listed match times are in Indian Standard Time, as shared by the organisers.

Captain Sweety Kujur said the squad is eager to start. She highlighted the hard training in recent weeks and useful exposure from the Australia series. She said the players have built strong understanding in camp and are focused on performing well during the Asia Cup.

Broadcast details for Indian fans

All matches featuring the Indian U-18 men's and women's teams, along with other Asia Cup fixtures, will be streamed live. Fans can watch the full tournament on the Asian Hockey Federation's official YouTube channel, which will carry coverage from Kakamigahara throughout the event.