India Begin Double Title Defence as Junior Asia Cup Hockey Tournament Opens in China

MOQİ (CHINA): The Indian junior hockey teams will begin their title defence at the AHF Junior Asia Cup in Moqi on Friday, with the under-21 men aiming for a record-extending sixth crown and the women seeking a hat-trick of titles. The tournament is scheduled from September 4 to 13 in Moqi, China.

India’s junior men’s team, the defending champions, will be looking to add another continental title to its impressive record. The side is led by defender Anmol Ekka and has prepared under newly appointed coach Frederic Soyez. The team also gained international exposure through a tour of Belgium and a preparatory camp in Dalian, where it played practice matches against China before moving to Moqi.

The Indian junior women’s team, meanwhile, will be aiming for its third consecutive Junior Asia Cup title after triumphs in the previous two editions. Midfielder Khaidem Shileima Chanu will captain the side, which has undergone an extensive preparation programme under coach Tim White, who took charge earlier this year. The team also recently completed an exposure tour of the United Kingdom as part of its build-up.

The tournament brings together Asia’s leading junior teams and serves as an important platform for emerging players to gain high-level international experience. India will begin its men’s campaign against Indonesia on September 5, while the women’s team will face Korea on the same day.

With both Indian sides entering the competition as reigning champions, the focus will be on maintaining their continental dominance while securing another step towards establishing themselves among Asia’s leading junior hockey nations.