Four players have been officially selected for the Indian National Under-18 Women’s Hockey Team from Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, Bhopal. The talented athletes are set to represent the country on the international stage at the upcoming Women’s Under-18 Asia Cup 2026 scheduled to take place in Kakamigahara, Japan, from May 29 to June 6. The tournament will showcase Asia’s top youth hockey talent. The four selected players from the Bhopal-based academy cover key positions across the field. The call-ups include goalkeeper Mehek Parihar, midfielders Sneha Dawande and Nammi Geetashri, along with forward Naushheen Naz.

 

India will face a challenging path in the tournament, having been placed in Pool A alongside formidable regional opponents including South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. The Indian squad will kick off its Asia Cup campaign on May 30 with an opening match against Malaysia, followed closely by a high-stakes encounter against South Korea on May 31. The team will wrap up its pool-stage fixtures against Singapore on June 2, aiming for a spot in the crucial knockout rounds, with the semi-finals scheduled for June 5 and the grand finale locked in for June 6.

 

In preparation for the gruelling tournament, the Indian Under-18 team recently concluded an intensive national conditioning camp right in Bhopal. The specialised training focused on upgrading technical skills, tactical positioning, match fitness, and team co-ordination. To fine-tune their strategies, the Indian team also played a highly competitive four-match bilateral series against Australia in Bhopal, securing confident victories that significantly boosted the squad’s morale and international readiness. Expressing his pride, Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang extended his best wishes to the selected players and the entire national contingent. He emphasised that the selection of these four athletes is a moment of immense pride for the entire state, driven by their relentless discipline and world-class training.