Moqi [China], September 3 (ANI): The Indian junior males’s and girls’s hockey groups are all in readiness to defend their respective crowns on the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Moqi, China, from September 4 to 13.
Both groups arrive on the continental event with sturdy credentials and in depth preparation, seeking to launch their title defence on a successful word, based on Hockey India.
Women’s staff eyes hat-trick of titles: The Indian girls’s staff lifted the AHF Junior Asia Cup trophy within the final two editions and might be led by midfielder Khaidem Shileima Chanu this time. The staff has undergone a structured coaching programme below newly appointed coach Tim White, who assumed cost earlier this 12 months.
As a part of their preparations for the continental event, an prolonged squad undertook a worthwhile publicity tour of the United Kingdom, the place they performed seven high-intensity matches towards Scotland Senior Women, USA U-21, England U-21 and Belgium U-21. The demanding sequence supplied the gamers with worthwhile worldwide match expertise whereas providing vital learnings throughout completely different types of play.
The publicity tour additionally helped the squad sharpen its tactical understanding, enhance match readiness and strengthen its general preparedness forward of the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026. With a mix of worldwide publicity and sustained preparation, the Indian staff will look to translate its learnings into sturdy performances in Moqi.
“Our first game is against South Korea on Saturday, so we are preparing for that. The team has acclimatised well. The weather is a bit cooler (in Moqi), but conditions are good and we are really looking forward to Match 1,” stated coach White.
“In terms of our expectations, we prepared well in Bengaluru over a number of months, including a tour of the UK and some games against a combined team. We feel our game is in good order and we are well prepared to play against the best teams in Asia. We are looking forward to seeing how our game plan is going to stand up against the best teams. I am sure the girls will do India proud,” he added.
India, positioned within the Elite Pool, will start its marketing campaign towards South Korea on September 5. The staff will then face Malaysia on September 6, earlier than taking up Japan on September 8 and hosts China on September 9.
Men’s staff targets record-extending sixth trophy: The Indian junior males’s staff will even enter the AHF Junior Asia Cup as defending champions, carrying the excellence of getting gained the continental title 5 occasions, together with the final three editions. Defender Anmol Ekka will captain the aspect, whereas newly appointed coach Frederic Soyez will look to start his tenure with a title win, based on Hockey India.
The squad has undergone in depth preparation within the build-up to the event. A key part of the preparations was an publicity tour of Belgium, the place the staff competed towards sturdy worldwide U-21 opposition from Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The tour supplied the gamers with worthwhile aggressive expertise and a chance to check their tactical and technical capabilities towards high-quality opposition.
The staff additional strengthened its match preparation via a sequence of pleasant video games at house towards the Malaysian U-21 aspect in Bengaluru, adopted by a three-match sequence towards hosts China in Dalian. These fixtures gave the squad extra game-time, permitting the gamers to construct mixtures, assess their preparations and develop larger match readiness earlier than arriving in Moqi.
“Our progression has been quite good. The last (friendly) game against China (an 8-2 win for India) was very positive,” stated coach Soyez. “It gave our confidence a huge boost heading into the tournament. We spent one week in Dalian, getting used to the conditions in China, before arriving in Moqi ahead of our opening match against Indonesia on Saturday.”
“Our main expectation from this tournament is to keep progressing and become more confident and consistent, maintain solid defensive structure and raise our level of performance with every match,” Soyez added.
India will open its Pool A marketing campaign towards Indonesia on September 5. The title-holders will then face Japan on September 6, adopted by matches towards South Korea on September 8 and Chinese Taipei on September 9.
With each Indian groups arriving as defending champions and having accomplished complete preparation programmes, the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 presents one other vital alternative for India’s rising hockey expertise to compete on the highest degree in Asia and construct in direction of the following stage of their worldwide careers. (ANI)