Hockey India announced the 18-member women’s U-18 national team that will compete at the Women’s U18 Asia Cup Kakamigahara, 2026, to be held in Japan from 29 May–6 June.
India’s young team will have the opportunity to gain valuable international experience and compete with several of Asia’s top hockey nations.
India Arrives After Intensive Training Camp
The Indian women’s hockey team is on its way to compete after weeks of preparation and training at the national camp in Bhopal for the Continental Cup.
Before the competition, Head Coach Rani Rampal focused on developing a successful team, executing strategies, and increasing match fitness to provide the best opportunity for successful performance.
Additionally, the Indian team played a 4-match series against Australia just before the tournament, winning one of those games, which gave them confidence entering the competition.
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Sweety Kujur To Lead The Team
India’s campaign will be led by captain Sweety Kujur as the team looks to make a strong impact in the tournament.
Speaking after the squad announcement, coach Rani said: “This tournament is a fantastic platform for these young athletes to gain international exposure and understand the demands of high-pressure matches. We have focused heavily on fitness, tactical structure and team coordination over the past few weeks. The team is excited and motivated to represent the country, and we will aim to play fearless hockey and challenge strongly for the title.”
India’s Group And Match Schedule
Tournament Pools
Pool A: India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore
Pool B: China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh
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India will be competing in Pool A with Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.
The opening match for India in pool A will be against Malaysia on May 30, followed by the next match against Korea on May 31, and then culminating in a match with Singapore on June 2.
The two teams from each pool that have the highest number of points at the end of pool play will move on to the Semi-Finals, which will take place on June 5th and then the Final will take place on June 6th.
India’s Match Schedule (IST)
- May 30, 2026: India vs Malaysia – 05:30 am
- May 31, 2026: India vs Korea – 05:30 am
- June 2, 2026: India vs Singapore – 09:30 am
Indian Women’s U18 Squad
| Position | Player Name |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Mahak Parihar |
| Goalkeeper | Khili Kumari |
| Defender | Sugan Sanga |
| Defender | Nilam Topno |
| Defender | Rubina Baxla |
| Defender | Kiran Ekka |
| Defender | Sulochani |
| Midfielder | Shruti Kumari |
| Midfielder | Diya |
| Midfielder | Sneha Davde |
| Midfielder | Rashmeen Kaur |
| Midfielder | Nammi Geetashree |
| Midfielder | Pushpa Manjhi |
| Forward | Nousheen Naz |
| Forward | Sweety Kujur (captain) |
| Forward | Priyanka Minz |
| Forward | Sandeepa Kumari |
| Forward | Nancy Saroha |
Also Read: Hockey India Unveils India’s Squad For U18 Asia Cup 2026
