Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday, 8 June felicitated both the Indian men's and women's Under-18 hockey teams at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters in New Delhi, honouring their performances at the U-18 Asia Cup 2026 held in Japan. The government disbursed a combined ₹82.5 lakh in prize money across both squads.

Men's Team: Champions in Kakamigahara

The Indian U-18 men's hockey team, captained by Ketan Kushwaha, clinched the U-18 Asia Cup 2026 title with a dominant 4-1 victory over hosts Japan in the final held in Kakamigahara on Friday. Dr Mandaviya presented the squad with a cheque of ₹61.5 lakh at the ceremony.

The Sports Minister also recognised standout individual performers — Ashish Tani Purti was felicitated as the best scorer in the men's tournament, while goalkeeper Ayush Rajak, who saved 10 goals across the competition, received special recognition.

Women's Team: Bronze at U-18 Asia Cup

The Indian U-18 women's team, led by captain Sweety Kujur, secured the bronze medal with a commanding 3-0 win over Korea in the third-place play-off. Dr Mandaviya handed the women's squad a cheque of ₹21 lakh as encouragement. Nousheen Naz was recognised as the best scorer in the women's draw.

Coaches Rani Rampal and Sardara Singh Honoured

The ceremony also saw recognition for the coaching staff. Former Indian hockey captain Rani Rampal, who serves as head coach of the women's team, and former men's captain Sardara Singh, who coached the men's side, were both felicitated by the Sports Minister for their contributions to the tournament.

Notably, this marks a significant milestone for both coaches — Rampal and Sardara Singh are among India's most decorated hockey alumni, and their transition into coaching the next generation underlines the depth of the country's hockey pipeline.

What the Minister Said

Addressing both squads, Dr Mandaviya said, 'I would like to congratulate both the teams for the hard work they have put in for bringing laurels for the country. The entire nation is proud of you. I would like to tell you that this is just the start. There is no alternative to hard work.'

He added, 'Someone who has scored 13 goals should think of scoring 15 or more goals. Someone who has stopped 10 goals should aim for not letting the opponents even score one. Whether you study or play sports, there should be total commitment.'

The Minister also reiterated the government's ambition, stating that the Government of India remains fully committed to transforming the country into a sports superpower, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

What This Means for Indian Hockey

The U-18 Asia Cup double — gold for the men and bronze for the women — signals a healthy talent pipeline for Indian hockey ahead of future World Cup and Olympic cycles. This comes amid a broader push by the Centre to invest in grassroots and age-group sports infrastructure. With experienced former internationals now guiding these squads from the dugout, India's junior hockey ecosystem appears to be entering a new phase of structured development.