India’s Men’s Junior Asia Cup Hockey Team Is Announced, With Amir Ali Leading

The 20-person team for the Men’s Junior Asia Cup, a competition that qualifies players for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup 2025 and will take place in Muscat, Oman, from November 26 to December 4, was revealed by Hockey India on Monday.

This competition has been won by India four times, namely in 2023, 2015, 2008, and 2004. They won the title last year after defeating rival Pakistan 2-1 in the final. Ten teams from the continent will compete this year, split into two pools: Pool A will include India, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Thailand, while Pool B will include Bangladesh, Malaysia, China, Oman, and Pakistan.

The team led by coach PR Sreejesh will be trying to maintain the momentum from their recent success at the Sultan of Johor Cup, where they placed third, even though India is already qualified for the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup because they are the hosts.

Amir Ali will lead the Indian team, with Rohit serving as his deputy. In addition to defenders Amir Ali, Talem Priyobarta, Shardanand Tiwari, Yogember Rawat, Anmol Ekka, and Rohit, India’s goalkeepers Princedeep Singh and Bikramjit Singh will man the goal.

Forwards Gurjot Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Dilraj Singh, Arshdeep Singh, and Araijeet Singh Hundal, and midfielders Ankit Pal, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Mukesh Toppo, and Thokchom Kingson Singh. Chandan Yadav and Sukhvinder have been added as backup players in the meantime.

“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.

Coach and former India goalie Sreejesh explained, “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,”

Goalies: Bikramjit Singh and Princedeep Singh Defenders: Rohit (VC), Anmol Ekka, Yogember Rawat, Shardanand Tiwari, Talem Priyobarta, and Amir Ali (C) Ankit Pal, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Mukesh Toppo, and Thokchom Kingson Singh are midfielders. Gurjot Singh, Dilraj Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha are the forwards. AP Sportsmen: Chandan Yadav and Sukhvinder