Hockey India announced on Friday the junior Indian men’s team for the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026. They also selected two alternate players and an 18-member roster for the competition. The tournament will take place in Moqi, China, from August 30 to September 13.

Under the direction of coach Frederic Soyez, the team trains at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bengaluru. The team is captained by defender Anmol Ekka.

The team completed a successful exposure trip to Belgium. They faced tough international opponents to prepare for the competition. The trip gave the athletes important game experience and key lessons. It allowed the squad to evaluate their progress and hone their combinations. It further solidified preparations for the AHF Junior Asia Cup.

The squad is getting more competitive experience via friendly matches against the Malaysian U-21 team at the SAI centre in Bengaluru.

However, regarding the squad selection, coach Soyez said that ‘We are satisfied with the balance and depth of the squad chosen for the Junior Asia Cup.’ Moreover, we’ll concentrate on playing organized, aggressive hockey while adhering to our strategy. Over the past several months, the players have worked diligently and have shown great dedication, discipline, and a strong will to get better. Consequently, consistent performances, a positive attitude, and the ability to execute our game plan under duress informed the selection. ”

Bringing together the top emerging teams from the continent in a very competitive setting, the AHF Junior Asia Cup is one of Asia’s premier junior hockey tournaments. The competition will allow India’s young team to put themselves against the top players in the area in an attempt to leave a lasting impact.

Soyez further said that the competition will be very competitive and that we appreciate all of our opponents. “We’ll concentrate on playing organized, aggressive hockey while adhering to our strategy. ”

The coach emphasized the importance of the competition in the players’ growth, saying, “This tournament is also an important step in the players’ development, and we are confident this group has the potential to deliver strong performances and make the country proud. ”

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Vivek Lakra, Kunal Tewatia

Defenders: Anmol Ekka (c), 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