BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, on Saturday, 6 June 2026, congratulated the Indian Women's Under-18 Hockey Team for winning the Bronze Medal at the U18 Asia Cup 2026, calling the young players 'Bharat Ki Betiyan' (daughters of India) and praising their skill, energy, and determination throughout the tournament.

Context

Thakur, who represents Hamirpur constituency in Himachal Pradesh and served as Sports Minister from 2019 to 2024, has been a consistent public voice on Indian sporting milestones. In his post, he wrote: 'Throughout the tournament, you worked magic with your sticks, displaying remarkable skill, energy, determination, and sporting spirit.' He added that 'women's hockey in India has entered one of its most exciting eras.'

The U18 Asia Cup is part of the Asian Hockey Federation's continental calendar for under-18 women's teams and serves as a key developmental platform for the next generation of international players.

Policy Backdrop

India's recent junior women's hockey results sit within a broader policy push that gained momentum after the senior women's team's historic bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. That performance prompted the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to increase targeted support for women's and youth hockey infrastructure.

The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, has been central to identifying and funding young athletes across disciplines, including hockey. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) has similarly been extended to cover promising junior talent, creating a more structured pipeline from grassroots to international competition.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Bronze Medal result directly benefits the young athletes in the squad, their state hockey associations, and Hockey India, which oversees national team development. A podium finish at a continental youth tournament strengthens the case for sustained budgetary support for women's hockey ahead of the next Union Budget.

For state associations — particularly those in hockey-strong states — such results validate investment in junior academies and coaching infrastructure. The visibility generated by senior political figures amplifying these achievements also contributes to public and sponsor interest in the women's game.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to Hockey India's 2026-27 junior and senior international calendar, with the U18 squad expected to feed into the senior women's pipeline over the coming years. Any announcements regarding increased allocation for women's hockey infrastructure in the next Union Budget will be closely watched by the sport's stakeholders.

India's consistent junior performances on the continental stage suggest the country's women's hockey ecosystem is producing depth — a trend that administrators and policymakers are likely to cite as evidence of the long-term impact of programmes like Khelo India.