Hockey India names 18-member U18 squad for Men's Asia Cup 2026 at Kakamigahara
Synopsis
Hockey India has picked its 18-member U18 men's squad for the Asia Cup 2026 in Kakamigahara, Japan, with forward Ketan Kushwaha leading the side. Prepared by a Sardar Singh-coached camp in Bhopal and tested against Australia U-18, India open against Kazakhstan on 29 May with a stated goal of topping their group and winning the trophy.
Key Takeaways
Hockey India announced an 18-member U18 men's squad on 21 May 2026 for the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2026 .
The tournament runs from 29 May to 6 June 2026 at Kakamigahara, Japan .
Forward Ketan Kushwaha will serve as captain; Sardar Singh is chief coach.
India played a four-match series against Australia U-18 in Bhopal as preparation, winning one, losing one, and drawing two.
India's group-stage opponents are Kazakhstan, Japan, South Korea , and Chinese Taipei ; semi-finals on 5 June , final on 6 June .
Hockey India on Wednesday, 21 May 2026, named an 18-member squad for the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2026, to be held from 29 May to 6 June at Kakamigahara, Japan. Forward Ketan Kushwaha will captain the side as India prepares to take on Asia's top youth teams in the continental showpiece.
Selection Process and Preparations
The squad was finalised following an intensive national coaching camp at the Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai ji) Central Centre at SAI Bhopal, conducted under chief coach Sardar Singh and assistant coach Rajnish Mishra. As part of their build-up, India played a four-match exposure series against Australia U-18 in Bhopal, winning one, losing one, and drawing two — a campaign that gave the squad a taste of international match intensity ahead of the Asia Cup.
What the Coach Said
Chief coach Sardar Singh expressed confidence in the selected group. 'The selection process was incredibly competitive, but we have picked an 18-member squad that gives us the perfect tactical balance. Our training in Bhopal and the exposure matches against a top-tier side like Australia gave these boys a great understanding of international pressure and match tempo,' he said.
Singh added: 'We have spent the last few weeks working heavily on our tactical discipline, penalty corner routines, and structure. The boys are in high spirits, and going into a major tournament like the Asia Cup, our objective is clear — we want to execute our plans effectively, top our group, and put ourselves in the best possible position to bring home the trophy.'
India's Group Stage Schedule
India open their campaign on 29 May against Kazakhstan at 09:30 hrs IST, before taking on hosts Japan on 31 May at 13:30 hrs IST. They then face South Korea on 1 June at 15:30 hrs IST, and conclude pool play against Chinese Taipei on 3 June at 13:30 hrs IST. Semi-finals are scheduled for 5 June, with the final and classification matches on 6 June.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Sawan Kumar, Ayush Rajak
Defenders: Ansh Bahutra, Arman Soreng, Ashish Tani Purti, Arshdip Singh, Avi Manikpuri, Romit Pal
Midfielders: Rahul Yadav, Premchand Soy, Varinder Singh, Karan Gautam, Siddharth Ben
Forwards: Ketan Kushwaha (Captain), Akash Deep, Gazee Khan, Shahrukh Ali, Prahalad Rajbhar
India's U18 side will be looking to assert themselves at the top of Asian youth hockey when the tournament kicks off in Kakamigahara later this month.
Point of View
Himself a former India captain whose playing credentials lend the setup credibility. The four-match Australia series — mixed results notwithstanding — is a smarter preparation model than pure domestic camp work, exposing players to high-tempo international hockey before the real stakes arrive. The real question is whether India's penalty corner efficiency, flagged by Singh as a focus area, has genuinely improved; at the junior level, set-piece execution often separates group-stage contenders from semi-final exits. A trophy at Kakamigahara would be a meaningful signal that Indian junior hockey's pipeline is deepening.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will captain India at the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2026?
Forward Ketan Kushwaha will captain the Indian U18 men's hockey team at the Asia Cup 2026 in Kakamigahara, Japan. He was named skipper after the national coaching camp at SAI Bhopal.
When and where is the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2026 being held?
The Men's U18 Asia Cup 2026 will be held from 29 May to 6 June 2026 at Kakamigahara in Japan. The final and classification matches are scheduled for 6 June.
Who is coaching the India U18 hockey team?
Former India captain Sardar Singh serves as chief coach, alongside assistant coach Rajnish Mishra. The coaching staff oversaw the national camp at the Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai ji) Central Centre at SAI Bhopal.
What were India's results against Australia U-18 ahead of the Asia Cup?
India played a four-match exposure series against Australia U-18 in Bhopal, winning one, losing one, and drawing two. The series was designed to prepare the squad for international match pressure ahead of the Asia Cup.
Who are India's opponents in the U18 Asia Cup 2026 group stage?
India are drawn against Kazakhstan (29 May), Japan (31 May), South Korea (1 June), and Chinese Taipei (3 June) in the group stage. The top teams advance to the semi-finals on 5 June.
