Ketan Kushwaha to captain India at U18 Asia Cup hockey in Japan
Synopsis
Hockey India has named forward Ketan Kushwaha as captain of the 18-member U18 squad for the Men's U18 Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan. After a mixed exposure series against Australia U18, coach Sardar Singh says the squad has the tactical balance to top their group and challenge for the title.
Key Takeaways
Hockey India announced an 18-member U18 men's squad on 21 May for the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2025 .
The tournament runs from 29 May to 6 June in Kakamigahara, Japan .
Forward Ketan Kushwaha will captain the Indian side.
India face Kazakhstan, Japan, South Korea , and Chinese Taipei in the group stage.
Pre-tournament preparations included a four-match series against Australia U18 in Bhopal — one win, one loss, two draws.
The squad was selected at the SAI Bhopal camp under coaches Sardar Singh and Rajnish Mishra .
Hockey India on Wednesday, 21 May named an 18-member squad for the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2025, to be held from 29 May to 6 June in Kakamigahara, Japan. Forward Ketan Kushwaha will lead the side as India targets a strong run in Asia's premier under-18 hockey tournament.
Squad Selection and Preparations
The squad was finalised following a rigorous National Coaching Camp at the Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai ji) Central Centre, SAI Bhopal, under head coach Sardar Singh and assistant coach Rajnish Mishra. As part of pre-tournament preparations, India hosted an exposure series against the Australia U18 team in Bhopal, winning one match, losing one, and drawing two — a mixed but instructive run-out against top-tier opposition.
India's Group Stage Schedule
India open their campaign on 29 May against Kazakhstan, followed by a high-stakes clash with hosts Japan on 31 May. They then face South Korea on 1 June before concluding the pool stage against Chinese Taipei on 3 June. The top teams advance to semi-finals on 5 June, with the final and classification matches scheduled for 6 June.
What the Coach Said
Head coach Sardar Singh emphasised the balance and readiness of 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 that the camp focused heavily on structure and set-pieces: '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.'
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 campaign at the Men's U18 Asia Cup will be closely watched as a barometer of the country's youth pipeline, with the tournament also serving as a key qualifier pathway for future age-group World Cups.
Point of View
High-tempo hockey — a deliberate choice at a tournament where group-stage goal difference can decide semi-final spots. The mixed results against Australia U18 are neither alarming nor reassuring; what matters is whether the tactical work on penalty corners and defensive structure translates under tournament pressure. India's youth pipeline has historically been strong at the group stage but has faltered in knockout rounds against Japan and South Korea — the two sides India meet in consecutive matches. That back-to-back fixture in the pool stage is, in effect, the tournament within the tournament.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Men's U18 Asia Cup 2025?
The Men's U18 Asia Cup 2025 takes place from 29 May to 6 June 2025 in Kakamigahara, Japan. The final and classification matches are scheduled for 6 June.
Who is captaining the India U18 hockey team at the Asia Cup?
Forward Ketan Kushwaha has been named captain of the Indian U18 men's hockey team for the Asia Cup. He leads an 18-member squad selected after a national coaching camp in Bhopal.
Which teams will India face in the group stage?
India will play Kazakhstan on 29 May, Japan on 31 May, South Korea on 1 June, and Chinese Taipei on 3 June. The top teams from the group stage advance to the semi-finals on 5 June.
How did India perform in their pre-tournament series against Australia U18?
India played four matches against Australia U18 in Bhopal as part of an exposure tour, winning one, losing one, and drawing two. The series was intended to prepare the squad for international match tempo and pressure.
Who are the coaches of the India U18 hockey team?
The India U18 men's hockey team is coached by Sardar Singh, with Rajnish Mishra serving as part of the coaching staff. The squad was prepared at the Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai ji) Central Centre at SAI Bhopal.
