'PM's praise will motivate and inspire youngsters', says coach Sardar Singh after U-18 Asia Cup hockey gold
New Delhi, June 8
Head coach Sardar Singh hailed the Indian men's team following their gold-medal triumph at the U18 Hockey Asia Cup, highlighting that the top-tier recognition, including praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will act as a major booster for the budding stars.
On Friday, the Indian U-18 men were crowned champions of the Asia Cup 2026 after defeating hosts Japan 4-1 in the final in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Friday. Menahwile, women's team secured the bronze medal after registering a commanding 3-0 victory over Korea in the bronze medal match
Speaking after receiving a rousing welcome upon the team's arrival back home, Sardar expressed his delight over the growing enthusiasm for the sport. "After a victory like this, all hockey lovers across the country celebrate and show their support. You can see the enthusiasm among the players, and it feels great that so many people came to welcome them," Singh told IANS.
"It is also a positive thing that the Prime Minister congratulated the entire team. In my opinion, such recognition will motivate these young players and inspire them in the future," he added.
Looking ahead, the coach stated that the support staff is fully aligned with the national federation's long-term vision to nurture young talent pool for the global stage.
"Whatever plan Hockey India gives us, we will follow it accordingly. We hope to continue working with these players and develop good hockey players. They still have a lot of time ahead of them to progress from the junior level and eventually enter the senior team," he concluded.
Ashish Tani Purti (2', 28', 34') starred with a hat-trick, while captain Ketan Kushwaha (30') also found the back of the net as India produced a commanding display against the hosts to lift the title.
"I would like to thank my team and our coaches for the immense support and training we received. We are very happy to have returned as champions after winning the Asia Cup. Supporting each other was the most important thing. Our coaches trusted us, and we are proud that we lived up to that trust and came back with the title..." skipper Ketan told IANS on his arrival at home.
Ashish added, "We feel very good about our performance. We were focused on winning the since the beginning. It feels great that we have won the gold medal for the country."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Hat-trick by Ashish Tani Purti from the northeast perhaps? That's fantastic! Our grassroots talent is amazing. But I wish Hockey India would invest more in developing hockey at school levels, not just when they win gold. Let's hope this momentum continues for the senior team too.
Congrats to the Indian U-18 team! As someone who follows sports globally, it's heartening to see the depth of talent in Indian hockey. The way they beat Japan in Japan is no small feat. Coach Sardar Singh's comments about PM's praise being motivational make sense - recognition at the highest level does inspire young athletes.
This is brilliant! Watching these youngsters bring gold is like seeing our nation's potential. But I must say, bas PM ke praise par hi focus mat karo yaar. The real heroes are the coaches and players who trained hard. Let's also talk about the women's bronze - that's equally commendable!
Great to see Indian hockey rising! The hat-trick by Ashish Tani Purti is incredible. But I hope the sports ministry also focuses on providing these youngsters with proper international exposure and facilities. Celebrations are nice, but long-term support matters more for their development.
Very proud moment! 🇮🇳 Captain Ketan Kushwaha leading by example and scoring too - that's leadership! But the real test is consistency. We've seen junior teams win and then fizzle out. Hope Hockey India has a proper transition plan to move these players to the senior level. Well done boys!
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