Union Sports Minister Honors Indian U-18 Hockey Teams for Asia Cup Success

The Union Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, recently honored the Indian U-18 men's and women's hockey teams for their outstanding performances in the Under-18 Asia Cup in Japan. The men's team emerged victorious, defeating Japan 4-1, while the women's team secured a bronze medal. During the ceremony, the Minister awarded significant cash prizes to both teams and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence in sports. He also highlighted the government's commitment to enhancing India's status as a sports superpower. The event recognized individual players for their exceptional contributions, including top scorers and the best goalkeeper.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 9, 2026, 02:17 IST

Celebrating Hockey Achievements

New Delhi, June 8: The Union Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, recognized the remarkable achievements of both the Indian men's and women's U-18 hockey teams at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Head Office on Monday, following their impressive performances in the recently concluded Under-18 Asia Cup held in Japan.

The Indian U-18 men's hockey team, under the leadership of captain Ketan Kushwaha, triumphed in the tournament, clinching the championship title by defeating the host nation, Japan, with a score of 4-1 in the final match in Kakamigahara on Friday.

During the ceremony, the Sports Minister presented a cheque of Rs 61.5 Lakh to the victorious men's team. Meanwhile, the Indian U-18 women's hockey team, captained by Sweety Kujur, secured a bronze medal after a decisive 3-0 win against Korea in their bronze medal match. Dr. Mandaviya also awarded the women's team a cheque of Rs 21 Lakh as a token of encouragement, as stated in a press release.

Dr. Mandaviya expressed his admiration for both teams, stating, “Congratulations to both teams for their dedication and for bringing pride to our nation. This is just the beginning. Hard work is irreplaceable. If you have scored 13 goals, aim for 15 or more. If you have prevented 10 goals, strive to ensure the opponents don’t score at all. Whether in academics or sports, total commitment is essential. Keep performing at your best and aim to make your parents and supporters proud.”

The Minister emphasized the Government of India's commitment to transforming the nation into a sports powerhouse, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Additionally, the Sports Minister honored the top scorers from both teams, Ashish Tani Purti and Nousheen Naz, along with the best goalkeeper, Ayush Rajak, who made 10 crucial saves during the tournament.

Former Indian hockey captains Rani Rampal and Sardara Singh, who are currently coaching the women's and men's teams respectively for the Under-18 Asia Cup, were also recognized during the event.