India's U-18 men's and women's hockey teams have departed for Kakamigahara, Japan, ahead of the U-18 Asia Cup 2026, scheduled from 29 May to 6 June. The men's squad flew out of New Delhi on Monday evening, while the women's team followed on Tuesday morning, both carrying strong medal expectations after intensive preparation and competitive exposure against Australia.

Preparation and Training Camp

Both squads completed month-long national coaching camps at the Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai Ji) Central Centre at SAI, Bhopal. The men's team trained under coaches Sardar Singh and Rajnish Mishra, while former India captain Rani Rampal oversaw the women's camp.

As part of final preparations, both junior sides played four-match exposure series against visiting Australian U-18 teams in Bhopal. The men's team recorded one victory, one defeat and two draws, while the women's team closed their series on a high with an encouraging win — a result that boosted confidence heading into the continental tournament.

Men's Team: Schedule and Pool Draw

The Indian men's side, led by forward Ketan Kushwaha, has been placed in Pool A alongside Kazakhstan, hosts Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei. India open their campaign against Kazakhstan on 29 May, before facing Japan on 31 May, Korea on 1 June and Chinese Taipei on 3 June.

Pool B comprises Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China. The top two teams from each pool advance to the semi-finals on 5 June, with the final on 6 June.

Speaking before departure, Kushwaha said: 'Representing India at a major tournament like the Asia Cup is a huge honour and responsibility for all of us. We have worked hard during the camp in Bhopal and the matches against Australia gave us valuable learning experiences. The team has developed strong understanding on and off the field, and we are excited to test ourselves against some of the best young teams in Asia. We are confident and will give our best in every match.'

Women's Team: Schedule and Pool Draw

The Indian women's team, captained by Sweety Kujur, focused on combinations, match fitness and tactical execution during the Bhopal camp. Drawn in Pool A, the side open against Malaysia on 30 May, face Korea on 31 May, and conclude the group stage against Singapore on 2 June. The format mirrors the men's draw, with the top two from each pool qualifying for the semi-finals.

Captain Kujur said: 'The entire team is excited and motivated ahead of the Asia Cup. We have spent several weeks preparing together and everyone has worked really hard during the camp. The matches against Australia helped us understand our strengths and areas where we need to improve, and finishing that series with a win gave us confidence. We know the competition at Asia Cup will be tough, but we are looking forward to giving our best and making India proud.'

What to Watch

For the men's side, clashes against traditional rivals Korea and Japan in Pool A will be pivotal in determining semi-final seeding. The women's Pool A is tightly contested, and the outcome against Korea could prove decisive. Both teams will look to convert their Australian exposure into structured, result-oriented performances on the Asian stage.