Junior Asia Cup 2026: India Tops Pool A, Secures Semi‑Final Spot

Mokha, 9 Sept – The Indian junior men’s hockey team finished the pool stage on top of Group A, earning a place in the semi‑finals of the 2026 Junior Asia Cup. A 15‑0 demolition of Chinese Taipei in the final group match cemented their position with ten points, derived from three wins and one draw.

Captain Anmol Ekkha was the tournament’s revelation, netting six goals – all from penalty corners – and effectively turning a scoreless opening quarter into a one‑sided showcase. India’s relentless pressure produced early chances, but the breakthrough arrived only in the 17th minute when Aryan Jess scored, followed by Prabhdeep Singh.

Gurdevk Singh, Arjun Santosh Hargrude and Harpal also found the net, while Ekkha’s successive penalty‑corner conversions pushed the tally to 15 by full‑time. South Korea’s 3‑2 win over Japan secured the second semi‑final slot, leaving Japan, Indonesia and Chinese Taipei out of contention.

India now looks ahead to the knockout phase, buoyed by a flawless group performance and the lethal accuracy of Ekkha’s set‑piece execution.