New Delhi: Hockey India on Friday announced an 18-member junior men’s squad for the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026. Defender Anmol Ekka will lead the team in the tournament, which will be held in Moqi, China, from 30 August to 13 September. Two alternate players have also been named.
India continue preparations in Bengaluru
The squad is currently training at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bengaluru under newly appointed coach Frederic Soyez. The camp is focused on improving fitness, sharpening team combinations and building greater understanding between the players before they leave for China later this month.
India recently returned from an exposure tour of Belgium, where the players faced strong international opposition. The tour gave the squad valuable match experience and helped the coaching staff assess its progress. It also allowed the players to work on their combinations and identify areas that still needed improvement.
The team is now playing friendly matches against the Malaysian Under-21 side at the SAI centre in Bengaluru. These games are providing further competitive practice and giving Soyez a chance to test different combinations before the final phase of preparations.
Soyez pleased with squad balance
Speaking about the team selection, Soyez said he was pleased with the balance and depth of the squad. He added that the players had shown commitment, discipline and a strong desire to improve during the past few months.
“We are pleased with the balance and depth of the squad selected for the Junior Asia Cup,” Soyez said. “The players have worked hard over the past few months, showing commitment, discipline and a strong desire to improve.”
He said selection was based on consistent performances, attitude and the ability to follow the team’s plans under pressure. Soyez believes the chosen group has the right mix of skill, discipline and experience to compete against the best junior teams in Asia.
India aim for disciplined, attacking hockey
The AHF Junior Asia Cup is one of the leading junior hockey competitions in the continent. It brings together Asia’s top emerging teams and offers young players an important platform to test themselves at a higher level.
“It will be a highly competitive tournament, and we respect every opponent,” Soyez said. “Our focus will be on playing disciplined, attacking hockey while staying true to our structure.”
The coach also stressed that the tournament would play an important role in the players’ long-term development. He said the experience of facing strong opposition would help them grow in confidence and prepare for bigger international challenges.
“This tournament is also an important step in the players’ development,” Soyez said. “We are confident this group has the potential to deliver strong performances and make the country proud.”
The match schedule and pool allocations will be announced closer to the tournament.
India squad for AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026
Goalkeepers: Vivek Lakra, Kunal Tewatia
Defenders: Anmol Ekka (captain), Rohit Kullu, Chirag, Ravinder, Ashu Maurya, Sanjit Tirkey, Sukhvinder
Midfielders: Adrohit Ekka, Harpal, Jeetpal, Manmeet Singh Rai
Forwards: Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Gursewak Singh, Aryan Xess, Lovenoor Singh
Alternate players: Arjun Santosh Hargude, Ritik Lakra