: Indian U-18 Hockey teams face ultimate Australian test

Hyderabad: The Indian men’s and women’s under-18 hockey teams are set to take on Australia’s Under-18 teams in a four-match series from  May 15 to20 at the Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai Ji) SAI Central Centre in Bhopal.

The exposure tour will serve as a crucial preparatory assignment ahead of the Men’s and Women’s U-18 Asia Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Kakamigahara, Japan, from 29th May.

Over the past month, the players have undergone intensive training, with the Indian U-18 Men’s Team and Indian U-18 Women’s Team training under the guidance of former Indian captains Sardar Singh and Rani respectively.

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Bringing together some of the country’s best junior talents from across India, the camp has helped the players unite and prepare as a team for the very first time ahead of the challenging series against Australia and the upcoming marquee international tournament.

The series against Australia presents an opportunity for both Indian U-18 teams to assess their combinations and overall preparedness against formidable opposition before heading to the continental tournament in Japan.

The Indian men’s team, captained by Ketan Kushwaha, will open their campaign on May 15 followed by the second match on May 17 and third on May 18.

The Indian women’s team, led by Sweety Kujur, will begin their series on May 15 followed by the second match on May 17 and the third on May 18.

The Indian men’s team coach Coach Sardar Singh said “I would like to thank Hockey India for taking this initiative because focusing on these young players at this stage is extremely important since they will eventually progress to the junior and senior teams of India.

We have been working on small technical details and strengthening their basics because in modern hockey, even the smallest aspects make a huge difference. This series against Australia will be a great test for the team. If we continue to invest in and develop these young players properly, Indian hockey can benefit immensely over the next decade.”

The women’s team coach Rani said, “It has never happened before that we have had the opportunity to play against a team like Australia in this age group, so this is a massive exposure opportunity for these girls. Players come from very different backgrounds, cultures, and mindsets, and the biggest challenge initially has been helping them understand that they are now representing India as one team. At this age, stepping out of their comfort zones is not easy, but the girls have adapted really well. This is also a learning phase for us as coaches, as managing workload and ensuring the players remain injury-free at this stage is extremely important.”