Kakamigahara, Japan: India’s young hockey brigade delivered a commanding performance on the continental stage, defeating hosts Japan 4-1 in the final of the Men’s U-18 Asia Cup 2026 to clinch the gold medal on Saturday.
The victory marked India’s third Men’s U-18 Asia Cup title, underlining the country’s growing depth in junior hockey. Forward Ashish Tani Purti emerged as the star of the final with a sensational hat-trick, while captain Ketan Kushwaha added another goal to seal a dominant win. Japan’s lone goal came through Gaku Numada.
India entered the final high on confidence after defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in a thrilling semifinal. Purti had also played a decisive role in that clash, continuing his excellent run through the tournament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian Men’s Under-18 Hockey Team on winning the Asia Cup 2026, saying the side displayed “exceptional skill and teamwork” throughout the tournament. He called the triumph a splendid accomplishment by India’s young hockey players and said it reflected hockey’s growing popularity among the youth.
In another boost for Indian hockey, the Indian Women’s Under-18 Team secured the bronze medal after defeating South Korea 3-0. The Prime Minister also congratulated the women’s team, praising their grit and calling the result a reflection of the growing strength of women’s hockey in India.
With gold in the men’s category and bronze in the women’s event, India ended the U-18 Asia Cup 2026 with a strong statement about the future of its hockey programme.
