India U-21 Hockey Team Begins Preparations For Junior Asia Cup With Belgium Tour

Defender Anmol Ekka will captain India’s 22-member Junior (U-21) men’s hockey team for the upcoming Belgium exposure tour , scheduled from July 5 to 18 , marking a key preparatory assignment ahead of the Junior Asia Cup later this year.

The tour will also be the first assignment under newly appointed coach Frederic Soyez and is expected to provide the young Indian side with valuable international exposure against top European teams.

During the tour, India will play two matches each against Austria and Belgium , and one match each against Germany and the Netherlands . The schedule begins with matches against Austria on July 7 and 8 , followed by a clash against Belgium on July 10 . India will then face Germany on July 13 , Belgium again on July 14 , and conclude the tour against the Netherlands on July 17 .

The exposure tour is aimed at helping the team fine-tune its combinations, improve tactical discipline and adapt to high-intensity international hockey ahead of the continental competition.

The squad features players from the Junior World Cup bronze medal-winning team held in Tamil Nadu last year. Four members of that squad Anmol Ekka, Adrohit Ekka, Ajeet Yadav and Rohit Kullu have retained their places in the side.

The team includes goalkeepers Vivek Lakra and Kunal Tewatia , defenders Anmol Ekka, Rohit Kullu, Chirag, Ravinder, Prasant Barla, Sanjit Tirkey and V Manimaran , midfielders Adrohit Ekka, Harpal, Jeetpal, Mukesh Toppo, Mannu Malik and Ritik Lakra , and forwards Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Arjun Hargude, Aryan Xess, Lovenoor Singh, Mohd Konain Dad and Gurusewak Singh .

Coach Soyez said the tour will help the players improve team cohesion, tactical execution and consistency under pressure , while also building unity within the group and a clearer understanding of elite international standards.