The Indian men's U-18 hockey team clinched the Men's U-18 Asia Cup 2026 title on Saturday, 6 June, defeating hosts Japan 4-1 in the final at Kakamigahara, in a performance that drew immediate praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The victory marks a commanding statement from India's next generation of hockey talent on the continental stage.

A Final to Remember

Ashish Tani Purti was the undisputed star of the summit clash, scoring a hat-trick in the 2nd, 28th, and 34th minutes — all from penalty corners. Captain Ketan Kushwaha added a fourth in the 30th minute, giving India a commanding 3-0 lead at half-time. Japan pulled one back through Numada Gaku's penalty stroke in the 52nd minute, but India's defence held firm to seal a 4-1 triumph.

Individual Honours

Purti's match-winning display earned him the Player of the Match award. His tournament tally of 13 goals also made him the competition's top scorer. Goalkeeper Ayush Rajak was named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament, underlining India's dominance at both ends of the pitch throughout the competition.

What PM Modi Said

Reacting to the victory in a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: 'A splendid accomplishment by our young hockey players! Congratulations to the Indian Men's U18 Hockey Team on winning the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2026. The team displayed exceptional skill and teamwork throughout the tournament, culminating in a memorable victory in the final. This triumph also reflects hockey's growing popularity among our youth. My best wishes to the team for their future endeavours.'

Women's Team Clinches Bronze

The celebrations extended to the Indian women's U-18 hockey team, who secured the bronze medal at the same tournament with a 3-0 win over Korea in the third-place playoff. Sandeepa Kumari opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, with captain Sweety Kujur doubling the lead in the 16th minute. India added a third in the 33rd minute and kept a clean sheet throughout. The women's side had narrowly lost to China on penalties in the semi-finals before bouncing back decisively. Modi separately praised the women's team, saying they 'displayed remarkable grit throughout the tournament' and that the result 'reflects the growing strength of women's hockey in India.'

Significance for Indian Hockey

The double podium finish — gold for the men and bronze for the women — signals the depth of India's junior hockey pipeline. Notably, this comes at a time when Indian hockey at the senior level has also been on an upward trajectory, with the national team's recent international performances drawing renewed public interest. The Asia Cup title for the U-18 men's side reinforces India's position as a dominant force in continental junior hockey, and several players from this squad are expected to be on the radar for future senior call-ups.