Kakamigahara/Japan, May 28: The Indian U-18 men’s and women’s hockey teams are set to begin their campaigns at the Hockey Asia Cup 2026 from May 29 to June 6, aiming to showcase their skills against Asia’s finest young talents.

The men’s team, captained by forward Ketan Kushwaha, enters the tournament after an intensive month-long camp at SAI Bhopal under the guidance of coaches Sardar Singh and Rajnish Mishra. Their preparation included a four-match series against Australia, where India secured one win, one loss, and two draws. Placed in Pool A alongside hosts Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, and Kazakhstan, India will open against Kazakhstan on May 29. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the semi-finals on June 5, with the final scheduled for June 6.

“The camp in Bhopal and matches against Australia helped us improve a lot as a unit,” said captain Ketan. “We know every match will be competitive, but the squad is motivated to give its best and make the country proud.”

Meanwhile, the women’s team, led by captain Sweety Kujur, also trained in Bhopal under coach Rani, focusing on tactical awareness, team combinations, and fitness. Their confidence was boosted by a win in a preparatory series against Australia. Drawn in Pool A with Malaysia, Korea, and Singapore, India will begin their campaign against Malaysia on May 30.

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Sweety expressed optimism: “We have trained really hard and the matches against Australia gave us important exposure. The team has developed strong understanding during the camp and everyone is eager to perform well.”

Both squads are determined to make a mark in Japan, with the semi-finals and finals promising high-intensity clashes.