India's Junior Hockey Team for Asia Cup Includes New Faces

Hockey India announced the 20-player squad for the Men's Junior Asia Cup, a qualifier for the 2025 FIH Hockey Junior World Cup. The tournament will be held in Muscat, Oman, from November 26 to December 4.

The team of India has won the tournament a record four times: most recently in 2023, and also in 2015, 2008, and 2004. Last year the Indian team defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in the final to take the championship with a 2-1 score in the last game.

There will be 10 Asian teams which have been divided into two pools. India, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, and Thailand will be performing in Pool A while the competition for Pool B will take place between Bangladesh, Malaysia, China, Oman, and Pakistan.

Though India have already qualified for the 2025 FIH Hockey Junior World Cup as the host nation, the team will look to build on from their recent success at the Sultan of Johor Cup where they secured a podium place.The Indian side side will be led by Amir Ali and Rohit will be his deputy. Goalkeepers Princedeep Singh and Bikramjit Singh will guard the post for India while defenders Amir Ali, Talem Priyobarta, Shardanand Tiwari, Yogember Rawat, Anmol Ekka and Rohit have been named in the squad.

Midfielders Ankit Pal, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Mukesh Toppo, Thokchom Kingson Singh and forwards Gurjot Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Dilraj Singh, Arshdeep Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal. Meanwhile, Sukhvinder and Chandan Yadav have been named as alternate players.

"The Sultan of Johor Cup was a first-time experience for many of the players, yet they showed great spirit in doing well and I am quite pleased with how they performed. The team will be taking confidence from that performance and will be working towards a successful outing in the Junior Asia Cup. The players have been putting in a lot of hard work at the ongoing national camp in SAI, Bengaluru and we have made certain changes to our game to be more effective in defence and efficient in converting goals", expressed coach and former India goalie Sreejesh.

Goalkeepers: Princedeep Singh, Bikramjit Singh

Defenders: Amir Ali (C), Talem Priyobarta, Shardanand Tiwari, Yogember Rawat, Anmol Ekka, Rohit (VC)

Midfielders: Ankit Pal, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Mukesh Toppo, Thokchom Kingson Singh

Forwards: Gurjot Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Dilraj Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal

AP Athletes: Sukhvinder, Chandan Yadav