The Indian U-18 Men’s Hockey Team kicked off its Men’s U-18 Asia Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic style, thrashing Kazakhstan 13-0 in their Pool A opener at Kakamigahara, Japan, on Friday.
Captain Ketan Kushwaha led from the front with a brilliant hat-trick, guiding the Indian side to one of its most dominant victories in the tournament’s opening round. India displayed complete control throughout the contest, overwhelming Kazakhstan with relentless attacking hockey and clinical finishing.
Apart from Kushwaha’s three-goal heroics, Prahalad Rajbhar, Ashish Tani Purti, Ansh Bahutra and Shahrukh Ali scored braces each, while Gazee Khan and Akash Deep also found the net in the one-sided encounter. India’s aggressive press, quick passing and superior ball control kept Kazakhstan under constant pressure from the opening whistle.
The victory gives India a flying start in Pool A, which also includes hosts Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei. The Indian side entered the tournament after a strong preparation phase, including a national coaching camp in Bhopal and an exposure series against the Australian U-18 team.
Ketan Kushwaha, who captains the squad, had earlier expressed confidence in the team’s preparations ahead of the tournament. The Indian colts now look to carry the momentum into their upcoming fixtures as they target a strong run in the continental championship.
The Men’s U-18 Asia Cup is considered an important platform for nurturing Asia’s next generation of hockey stars, and India’s commanding opening performance underlined the country’s strong youth pipeline in the sport.
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