Indian Junior Hockey Teams Gear Up for AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 in China

The Indian junior men's and women's hockey teams are set to defend their titles at the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 in Moqi, China. With extensive preparations, including international exposure tours, both teams aim to kick off their campaigns successfully. The women's team, led by Khaidem Shileima Chanu, seeks a third consecutive title, while the men's team, captained by Anmol Ekka, aims for a record sixth championship. The tournament promises to be a significant opportunity for India's emerging hockey talent to shine on the continental stage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 4, 2026, 00:11 IST

Indian Teams Set to Defend Titles at AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026

Moqi, China - The Indian junior men's and women's hockey teams are poised to defend their titles at the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026, taking place from September 4 to 13 in Moqi.

Both squads arrive at this prestigious tournament with impressive credentials and thorough preparations, aiming to kick off their title defense successfully, as stated by Hockey India.

Women's Team Aims for Third Consecutive Title: The Indian women's team, which has won the AHF Junior Asia Cup in the last two editions, will be captained by midfielder Khaidem Shileima Chanu. Under the guidance of new coach Tim White, who took over earlier this year, the team has engaged in a structured training regimen.

To prepare for the continental challenge, an extended squad participated in an exposure tour in the United Kingdom, where they faced off against Scotland Senior Women, USA U-21, England U-21, and Belgium U-21 in seven high-stakes matches. This rigorous series provided the players with invaluable international experience and insights into various playing styles.

The exposure tour also enhanced the squad's tactical understanding, improved their match readiness, and bolstered their overall preparation for the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026. With a blend of international exposure and consistent training, the Indian team is eager to convert their learnings into strong performances in Moqi.

“Our first match is against South Korea on Saturday, and we are gearing up for that. The team has adapted well to the cooler weather in Moqi, and we are excited for Match 1,” coach White remarked.

“We have prepared thoroughly in Bengaluru over several months, including the UK tour and games against a combined team. We believe our game is in good shape, and we are ready to compete against Asia's best teams. We look forward to seeing how our game plan holds up,” he added.

India, placed in the Elite Pool, will commence its campaign against South Korea on September 5, followed by matches against Malaysia on September 6, Japan on September 8, and hosts China on September 9.

Men's Team Aims for Record Sixth Title: The Indian junior men's team enters the AHF Junior Asia Cup as the defending champions, having claimed the continental title five times, including the last three editions. Defender Anmol Ekka will lead the team, while newly appointed coach Frederic Soyez aims to start his tenure with a championship win, according to Hockey India.

The squad has undergone extensive preparations leading up to the tournament, including an exposure tour in Belgium where they faced strong U-21 teams from Austria, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. This tour provided the players with crucial competitive experience and a chance to test their tactical and technical skills against high-caliber opponents.

Additionally, the team enhanced its match readiness through friendly games against the Malaysian U-21 side in Bengaluru, followed by a three-match series against hosts China in Dalian. These matches allowed the players to build chemistry, evaluate their preparations, and improve their match readiness before arriving in Moqi.

“Our progress has been quite positive. The last friendly against China, where we won 8-2, was a significant confidence booster,” coach Soyez stated. “We spent a week in Dalian acclimatizing to the conditions in China before heading to Moqi for our opening match against Indonesia on Saturday.”

“Our primary goal for this tournament is to continue progressing, build confidence and consistency, maintain a solid defensive structure, and elevate our performance level with each match,” Soyez added.

India will kick off its Pool A campaign against Indonesia on September 5, followed by matches against Japan on September 6, South Korea on September 8, and Chinese Taipei on September 9.

With both Indian teams arriving as defending champions and having completed extensive preparation programs, the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 offers a vital opportunity for India's emerging hockey talent to compete at the highest level in Asia and advance their international careers.