Central centre
Image Source: IANS
India’s U-18 Men's & Women's Hockey Teams Leave For Asia Cup In Japan
Udhav Das Mehta: India’s U-18 men’s and women’s hockey teams have departed for Kakamigahara, Japan, ahead of the U-18 Asia Cup 2026, set to be held from May 29 to June 6. The men’s squad left from New Delhi on Monday evening, while the women’s team departed on Tuesday morning, carrying strong expectations after weeks of preparation and competitive exposure matches against Australia.
Both teams underwent month-long national coaching camps at the Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai Ji) Central Centre at SAI, Bhopal. The men’s side trained under coaches Sardar Singh and Rajnish Mishra, while former India captain Rani Rampal supervised the women’s team camp.
As part of their final preparations, India’s junior squads played four-match exposure series against visiting Australian U-18 teams in Bhopal. The men’s team recorded one victory, one defeat and two draws, while the women’s team ended their series on a high with an encouraging win. The matches provided valuable international experience ahead of the continental tournament.
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