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India U-18 Hockey Teams Gear Up for Four-Match Series vs Australia Before Asia Cup

India's U-18 men's and women's hockey teams will play a four-match series against Australia from May 15-20 in Bhopal. The series follows a national coaching camp at SAI Bhopal and is crucial preparation for the U-18 Asia Cup in Kakamigahara. Men's coach Sardar Singh emphasized the camp's focus on fundamentals and the importance of international competition for match temperament. Women's coach Rani Rampal echoed the sentiment, noting the opportunity for players to showcase their skills at a higher level.

Key Points: India U-18 Hockey vs Australia: Key Series Ahead of Asia Cup

  • India U-18 men’s and women’s teams play four-match series vs Australia
  • Series runs from May 15 to 20 in Bhopal
  • Matches serve as preparation for U-18 Asia Cup in Kakamigahara
  • Coaches Sardar Singh and Rani Rampal highlight camp progress
2 min read

India U-18 Men's and Women's Hockey teams set for four-match series vs Australia ahead of Asia Cup

India U-18 men’s and women’s hockey teams face Australia in a four-match series from May 15-20 in Bhopal, preparing for the U-18 Asia Cup.

"The upcoming exposure matches against Australia's U18 teams are an important step in our preparation. - Sardar Singh"

Bhopal, May 5

The Indian Men's and Indian Women's U-18 Hockey Teams will each take on Australia's U-18 teams in a four-match series from 15 to 20 May at the Udhav Das Mehta Central Centre, Bhopal.

The exposure series follows the U-18 National Coaching Camp, which began at SAI Bhopal on April 19, and will serve as vital preparation for the U18 Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, beginning later this month, according to a release.

For the Indian Women's U-18 Hockey Team, the four-match series against Australia will begin on May 15 with an evening fixture at 19:00 hrs, followed by the second match on May 17 at 17:00 hrs.

The third game is scheduled for May 18 at 19:00 hrs, while the final encounter will be played on May 20 at 08:00 hrs.

The Indian Men's U-18 team will begin their series on May 15 at 17:00 hrs, followed by their second match on May 17 at 19:00 hrs.

The third game will be played on May 18 at 17:00 hrs, while the series concludes with the last fixture on May 20, beginning at 10:00 hrs.

Men's Coach Sardar Singh highlighted the progress made during the camp and the importance of the upcoming matches, saying, "We've had a very productive phase here at SAI Bhopal, and the players have responded well to the intensity and expectations. A key focus during this camp has been to strengthen their fundamentals and basics across all positions, so they are better prepared for the demands of modern hockey and can steadily progress towards the senior level."

"The upcoming exposure matches against Australia's U18 teams are an important step in our preparation. It's a valuable opportunity for the group to experience high-quality international competition, test combinations, and build match temperament. With the U18 Asia Cup on the horizon, these fixtures will play a key role in helping us identify the best possible squad to represent India."

Women's Coach Rani Rampal echoed a similar sentiment, adding, "The camp at SAI Bhopal has been a good phase for us to work with the players, and we're happy with how they've approached it. The matches against Australia's U-18 team will give them a great chance to play at a higher level and prepare for the U-18 Asia Cup. It's an opportunity for each player to showcase their ability and what they have learned."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

D
Deepika L
Finally, some real focus on grassroots hockey development! Bhopal hosting this series is a massive boost. The timing before Asia Cup is perfect. Kudos to HI and SAI for this initiative.
M
Michael C
As someone who follows hockey closely, this is a smart move. Australia always plays fast, physical hockey. Our U-18 players will learn a lot, especially in defense and counter-attacks. Rani Rampal's experience will be invaluable for the girls' team.
V
Varun X
Hope the players take this seriously. These exposure tours are useless if they don't learn from mistakes. I remember earlier U-18 teams struggled with fitness against Aussies. Let's hope Sardar Sir has worked on that. 🤞
S
Sneha F
So proud to see Rani Rampal still contributing to Indian hockey even after retiring! She was my inspiration growing up. This women's U-18 team has real potential. Come on girls, show the Aussies what we're made of! 💪
S
Siddhartha F
Good initiative but I wish Hockey India would also focus on school-level development. Most of our players come from rural backgrounds and lack structured coaching early on. These camps are great but we need more sustainable programs. Jai Hind!
J
James A

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