Indian U-18 Men’s Hockey Team Shines with Massive Victory over Chinese Taipei
Kakamigahara, Japan, June 3, 2026: In an impressive show of skill, the Indian U-18 Men’s Hockey Team defeated Chinese Taipei with a staggering score of 13-1 in their final Pool A match of the U-18 Asia Cup 2026 held in Kakamigahara. This dominant performance secured India’s spot in the semifinals of the tournament.
India had a strong pool phase, securing victories against Kazakhstan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei, though they faced a defeat against hosts Japan. With these results, the team ended the pool stage with nine points from four matches.
The match against Chinese Taipei highlighted India’s offensive strength, with Ashish Tani Purti stealing the spotlight by scoring three goals (27′, 35′, 42′). Gazee Khan (40′, 44′), Siddharth Ben (30′, 52′), and Rahul Yadav (20′, 54′) also made significant contributions with two goals each. Other scorers included Karan Gautam (7′), Premchand Soy (11′), and captain Ketan Kushwaha (13′).
From the start, India demonstrated their intent, taking control early on. Karan opened the scoring by converting a penalty corner in the seventh minute. This was quickly followed by a field goal from Premchand at the 11-minute mark, and then a third from skipper Kushwaha just two minutes later, giving India a strong lead by the end of the first quarter.
India’s dominance continued into the second quarter. Yadav added a fourth goal at the 20-minute mark before Purti scored from another penalty corner, extending the lead to 5-0. Siddharth capped off the quarter with a goal just before halftime, while Chinese Taipei managed to score one back through Yong-Jyun Jhang just as the first half ended, bringing the score to 6-1.
The second half saw India maintaining their momentum. Purti quickly netted his second goal at the 35th minute, followed by Khan converting a penalty corner at the 40th minute, and Purti completing his hat-trick shortly after. By the end of the third quarter, India led 10-1.
In the final quarter, India maintained their offensive pressure. Varinder converted another penalty corner at the 50-minute mark, and Siddharth scored again to extend the lead. Yadav wrapped up the scoring with his second goal, finalizing the match at 13-1.
This significant win ensures India’s progression to the semifinals, which are set to take place on Friday, June 5. The matchup will be determined after the last Pool A game between Japan and Kazakhstan today.
All matches will be available for live streaming on the Asian Hockey Federation’s official YouTube channel.
