Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026: India Ready to Shine
Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026 is set for Moqi, China, in September.The junior event runs from September 4 to September 13, 2026. It will include separate events for boys and girls teams. Young players from across Asia will compete and try to make an early mark.India is expected to take part in both the junior boys and junior girls events. Hockey India is likely to put forward strong squads. For many of these athletes, this will be a chance to face top sides from the region. It can also help them move toward senior hockey later.Junior men: the group looks tough. India will play against Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei. Points will matter from the first games. Teams will need solid results to reach the next round.Junior women: the pool is also demanding. India is listed against Korea, Malaysia, Japan, and the host team, China. Each match could decide who advances. That is why every contest will be key.
Coaches will be working closely with the players during the week of games. India’s teams should have real chances in both categories. The Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026 may help shape the next group of players for the national setup.There will be a lot for hockey fans to track over the days ahead. If you are reading on Reddy Book, you can watch key group games as they come up. The junior men of India are set to play Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei in the group round. The junior women are listed to face Korea, Malaysia, Japan, and China in their group matches.Several young players are expected to join, backed by coaching staff with solid experience. Still, the group stage looks demanding. Each game matters, since teams will aim to move on to the next stage. With that in mind, the Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026 may act as an early test for the next group of Indian hockey players, and it could hint at who might matter more later.
When and Where Is the Junior Asia Cup 2026?
The Men’s Junior Asia Cup in China in 2026 and the Women’s Junior Asia Cup in China in 2026 will take place in Moqi, China. Dates are 4 September to 13 September 2026.
For the men, the event starts on 4 September. India will play its first game on 5 September.
For the women, the schedule also begins on 4 September. India’s first match is set for 5 September.
The medal games fall on 13 September.
Men’s bronze match is at 11:45 IST. After that, the men’s final is at 16:15 IST.
Women’s bronze match starts at 09:30 IST. The women’s final begins at 14:00 IST.So the second week of September matters a lot for those following Reddy book and international junior hockey.
India Men's Junior Hockey Team
India’s junior men’s team is set to play in the tournament with 18 players. Anmol Ekka, a defender, has been picked as captain.The group is made up of two goalkeepers, seven defenders, four midfielders, and five forwards. Coach Frederic Soyez now has a mix of roles for the continental event.
India's Men's Squad
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India’s men’s junior hockey team has picked an 18-player squad for the Junior Asia Cup 2026. Defender Anmol Ekka will captain the group. Head coach Frederic Soyez has a mix of positions in the team.There are two goalkeepers in the squad. Vivek Lakra and Kunal Tewatia will handle the duties. The defense list includes Ekka plus Rohit Kullu, Chirag, Ravinder, Ashu Maurya, Sanjit Tirkey, and Sukhvinder.
In the middle, India has Adrohit Ekka, Harpal, Jeetpal, and Manmeet Singh Rai. The plan is to keep the ball moving and build chances. Up front, Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Gursewak Singh, Aryan Xess, and Lovenoor Singh will aim to score when matches tighten.Arjun Santosh Hargude and Ritik Lakra are named as alternate players. They may be used later in the tournament if needed.Anmol Ekka is one of the names to watch, mainly due to his captaincy and his work in defense. The forwards are also likely to draw eyes as they try to pierce the back lines of top junior teams from Asia. For Reddy book readers, this is a chance to see these rising players compete beyond home soil.
India's Women's Junior Hockey Team
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India’s women’s junior hockey team will be a team to watch at the Junior Asia Cup 2026. Midfielder Khaidem Shileima Chanu will lead the group. Tim White will take charge as head coach. Hockey India has picked an 18-player squad plus two extra players.Nidhi and Engil Harsha Rani Minz will handle goalkeeping. The defense will include Puja Sahoo, Supriya, Pooja Malik, Parwati Topno, and Madhu. In the midfield, the captain Khaidem Shileima Chanu will play alongside Tanuja Toppo, Binima Dhan, Roshni Aind, and Geeta Yadav.
India’s forward line will feature Lalrinpuii, Purnima Yadav, Sukhveer Kaur, Krishna Sharma, Sanika Chandrakant Mane, and Madhu Sidar. That mix gives the team more choices up front.F Lalbiaksiami and Tanushree Dinesh Kadu are listed as alternate players. They could be used for extra cover during the tournament.The midfield is likely to be key in India’s run. Khaidem Shileima Chanu is expected to be central to the team’s build-up and leadership. The Junior Asia Cup is also a chance to focus on players who are still finding their way and to track young talent that may move toward the senior national team later.
India's Women's Group-Stage Schedule
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India’s women’s junior hockey side will start the Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026 on September 5. Korea will be the first opponent. After that, India will play Malaysia on September 6. The team’s next game will be against Japan on September 8. India will wrap up the group stage on September 9, when China is the opponent.
This set of matches will not be easy. It will require steady play across the group phase. The squad will need to lock in from the first whistle. Captain Khaidem Shileima Chanu is expected to help shape the midfield and support the team as it moves forward and creates chances.
The opener versus Korea matters because it sets the tone. The match against Malaysia should help India gain rhythm. Japan is also expected to be tough. Then India will close the group stage against the hosts, China.
As the knockout matches get closer, each game can affect where India ends up. Doing well in the group stage can boost confidence for the next phase. It can also place the young players in a stronger spot as the medal rounds approach.
India's Men's Group-Stage Matches
| Date | Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| September 5 | India vs Indonesia | 06:30 |
| September 6 | Japan vs India | 08:30 |
| September 8 | Korea vs India | 06:30 |
| September 9 | India vs Chinese Taipei | 06:30 |
India's Women's Junior Hockey Team
India’s women’s under-21 team entered the Junior Asia Cup 2026 with high expectations. They were the top side in the previous edition. Khaidem Shileima Chanu was picked to lead from midfield. Tim White was named head coach. Hockey India chose a squad of 18 for the tournament. In addition, two more players were listed as backups.
In goal, Nidhi and Engil Harsha Rani Minz will share the role. The back line includes Puja Sahoo, Supriya, Pooja Malik, Parwati Topno, and Madhu.
In midfield, the captain Khaidem Shileima Chanu will pair with Tanuja Toppo, Binima Dhan, Roshni Aind, and Geeta Yadav.
For the forward spots, the team will use Lalrinpuii, Purnima Yadav, Sukhveer Kaur, Krishna Sharma, Sanika Chandrakant Mane, and Madhu Sidar. The support players are F Lalbiaksiami and Tanushree Dinesh Kadu.
India's Women's Group-Stage Schedule
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| Date | Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| September 5 | India vs Korea | 10:30 |
| September 6 | India vs Malaysia | 06:30 |
| September 8 | Japan vs India | 08:30 |
| September 9 | China vs India | 16:30 |
Teams Competing in the Tournament
The Junior Asia Cup gathers top junior field hockey sides from across Asia. It gives young athletes a chance to play internationally and see where they stand.There are events for both boys and girls. That means more variety in opponents and matchups. It also creates chances for new names to stand out early.In the boys event, the teams are India, Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, China, and Malaysia. With teams like these, the games should stay tight. Different styles and different levels of experience will show up in the group matches. India will have to stay sharp from start to finish. Even a minor dip in form could hurt their chances to reach the next stage.
The girls event includes India, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, and Hong Kong. Since many of these teams have well known programs, India’s group matches will be tough. Each game will matter. It will also give the players hands on international experience. At the same time, they will be pushing to reach the later rounds.For India’s squads, the tournament is bigger than one result. It is also about building the next group of players. The young group will face match pressure that they may not get at home. They will meet unfamiliar opponents and learn to manage tense stretches in close contests. Good showings now can also open doors toward senior chances later on.
Teams Competing in the Tournament
Anmol Ekka is one of the main faces in India’s men’s campaign.Ekka has been given the captain’s armband. He will need to guide the back line and also set the tone for the group. India has been working under coach Frederic Soyez. They also went on a trip to Belgium for more exposure.As captain, he is expected to help arrange the defensive shape. He should also keep everyone calm when the match becomes tense.Because of that, Ekka is a strong choice for Reddy book match previews and related visuals.Khaidem Shileima Chanu is at the helm for the women.
Chanu is a midfielder, so she will likely be involved early in most phases. India will count on her to manage the ball and move the team fast from defence to attack. The women’s squad also put in time through a longer preparation block, which included an exposure trip to the United Kingdom.In tight games, her steadiness in midfield could matter a lot. She can help decide how India controls the tempo.
For Reddy book readers, she stands out for coverage around the Women’s Junior Asia Cup.India’s build-up is also worth noting.The men’s junior team went to Dalian, China, in late August. They trained there and played practice matches. After that, they moved to Moqi for the tournament. During the run up, they were set to play practice games against China’s junior men.They recently wrapped up a five match friendly series versus Malaysia in Bengaluru too.On the women’s side, the UK trip added more international exposure before the continental event.All these steps are meant to help the players settle into international matches and deal with local conditions in the
The Road to the Medal Matches
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The group stage ends on September 9. After that, the event goes into the placement rounds and then the knockouts. The weeks that follow the opener matter a lot. Once teams move past the first games, there is less margin for error. India’s men and women will have to gather form early. They also need to use each chance they get in their group matches.
For the men, the semifinals are set for September 12. That leaves the leading teams only a brief window to get ready for the tournament’s key matches. Whoever makes the last four will need to look after their players. They must keep their pace up and stay locked in when pressure rises. With a spot in the final on the line, staying solid at the back and finishing well at the other end may decide things.
On September 13, the men play for third place and also for the title. Teams that reach the final get a shot at the top honor. The bronze game still gives teams a final chance to close out the event on a better note. For India, making it into the medal rounds is a key goal from the start.
The women have a different path. Their quarter-final matches are on September 10. Because of that, what happens in the groups will carry extra weight right away. If India performs well in the group stage, the next round begins with more confidence. If results are tough early, the quarter-finals can feel even more tense when they arrive.
Final Thoughts on Junior Asia Cup Hockey
The Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026 feels bigger than a normal junior event. It gives India’s younger players a real chance to measure themselves against top youth talent from across Asia. They will gain match experience abroad and learn what it takes to step up later.India’s men’s side will play in Pool A. Anmol Ekka will lead the group, with Frederic Soyez as coach. Their opponents will be Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei. Each game will bring its own style. India will have to stay sharp during the pool matches. Good work at the back will matter. Midfield control will matter too. Up front, the team will need clear chances and smart finishing to keep moving forward.The women’s team is led by Khaidem Shileima Chanu, coached by Tim White. They are set to face Korea, Malaysia, Japan, and China. Many teams here can fight for results. Because of that, India’s young players must keep confidence, but also keep discipline. The lessons from these matches may help them as their careers grow.A key draw of the Junior Asia Cup is seeing India’s next hockey faces. Anmol Ekka and Khaidem Shileima Chanu will carry leadership duties. At the same time, newer players in both squads will look for a chance to stand out through strong play.The tournament will also show how India handles pressure. Group games count, but the knockout stage is where focus must rise. Details can decide matches, like penalty corners and defensive saves. Fast breaks will be important. Small moments of skill can also change the result when the stakes get high.For Reddy book readers and hockey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026
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The Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2026 is a big field event on the hockey calendar in Asia. It brings together top junior boys’ and girls’ teams from different countries. India is set to take part in both the men’s and women’s events.
The event runs from September 4 through September 13, 2026, and it will be held in Moqi, China.
India’s junior men’s side will face Indonesia in the group stage. They will also meet Japan. Next up are Korea and Chinese Taipei.
Anmol Ekka has been named captain of India’s men’s junior hockey team for the tournament.
Frederic Soyez coaches India’s under-21 men’s hockey side. He is the head coach.
Khaidem Shileima Chanu has been named captain of India’s women’s junior hockey team.