Ashish Tanu Purti and Premchand Soy to Represent India in Japan
Key Points:
- Ashish Tanu Purti and Premchand Soy selected in India’s 18-member U-18 Asia Cup squad
- Tournament to be held in Kakamigahara, Japan, from May 29 to June 6
- Selection follows standout performances in India vs Australia U-18 series in Bhopal
JAMSHEDPUR – Two cadets of the Naval Tata Hockey Academy (NTHA), Ashish Tanu Purti and Premchand Soy, have earned a place in India’s 18-member squad for the Men’s Under-18 Asia Cup 2026, to be played in Kakamigahara, Japan.
The prestigious tournament is scheduled from May 29 to June 6. Meanwhile, the final selection came on the back of a bilateral series between India and Australia Under-18, held in Bhopal from May 15 to 20.
Three NTHA cadets, including Jayson Kandulna, had been part of the initial 24-member probable squad for that series. However, only Ashish and Premchand made it to the final 18.
Ashish impressed the selectors with his performances in defence. Premchand, on the other hand, stood out in midfield during the Bhopal series.
“We are extremely proud of the selection of Ashish and Premchand in the final 18 for the Asia Cup,” said Gurmeet Singh Rao, Project Director, NTHA. “Their tactical acumen and outstanding displays against Australia are a direct reflection of the high-quality training at our academy.”
He added that both players had proved their exceptional talent while representing Jharkhand and NTHA, and expressed full confidence in their ability to contribute to India’s gold medal campaign in Japan.
The Naval Tata Hockey Academy in Jamshedpur functions as a high-performance hockey centre. It is dedicated to identifying and nurturing hockey talent from across the region.
The academy integrates professional coaching, sports science, and world-class infrastructure. In addition, it aims to build a pipeline of future international champions for Indian hockey.
Earlier this year, NTHA’s Roshan Ekka had also been selected for the Hockey India Junior National Camp in Bangalore, signalling the academy’s growing influence in national-level hockey selections.
Moreover, the NTHA had earlier trained physical education teachers of East Singhbhum in hockey basics, underlining its broader commitment to grassroots development of the sport.
