The India U-18 Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams are gearing up to compete against Australia in a four-match series from May 15 to 20 at the Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai Ji) SAI Central Centre in Bhopal. These matches are crucial preparations for the upcoming Men’s and Women’s U-18 Asia Cup 2026 scheduled in Kakamigahara from May 29.
Selected after impressive performances in the 16th Hockey India Sub Junior National Championship 2026, the young Indian teams have been training under former Indian captains Sardar Singh and Rani Rampal at the national coaching camp in Bhopal for the past month. This camp has united some of India’s finest young hockey talents and readied them as a cohesive unit for the challenges ahead.
The series against Australia presents an opportunity for both Indian teams to test their strategies and readiness before the Asia Cup tournament in Japan. The Indian U-18 Men’s Team, led by Ketan Kushwaha, will kick off their campaign on May 15 at 5:00 PM IST, with subsequent matches on May 17, 18, and 20. The Indian U-18 Women’s Team, captained by Sweety Kujur, will also commence their series on May 15, with matches scheduled for May 17, 18, and 20.
Indian U-18 Men’s Team coach Sardar Singh expressed gratitude to Hockey India for focusing on the young players, emphasizing the importance of honing their skills for future national teams. He highlighted the significance of attention to technical details and basics in modern hockey. Similarly, Indian U-18 Women’s Team coach Rani emphasized the exposure opportunity against Australia for the girls, highlighting the challenge of uniting diverse players under the Indian flag.
Australia U-18 Men’s Team coach Dan Mitchell praised the Indian style of hockey and anticipated a tough challenge against India. Australia U-18 Women’s Team coach Matt Cook aimed for a learning experience for the athletes, emphasizing the importance of adapting to international competition and building stronger relationships between India and Australia for future growth and player development.
