Ashish Tani Puti, Premchand Soy Honoured After India’s U-18 Gold In Japan
Key Points:
- NTHA cadets felicitated at academy for Asia Cup gold medal win
- India beat Japan 4-1 in final to win first U-18 title in a decade
- Ashish Tani Puti finishes as tournament’s top goal scorer
JAMSHEDPUR – Tata Steel on Friday felicitated two cadets of the Naval Tata Hockey Academy, Ashish Tani Puti and Premchand Soy, who were part of the Indian team that won gold at the 2026 Men’s Hockey U-18 Asia Cup. The tournament was held in Kakamigahara, Japan. The felicitation ceremony took place at the academy in Jamshedpur, attended by media representatives, sports officials, coaches, and stakeholders connected to the institution.
India lifted the title after defeating Japan 4-1 in the final, securing the country’s first U-18 Asian championship in a decade. The victory has also drawn national attention towards several young players who featured in the squad.
D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President, Corporate Services at Tata Steel, spoke at the ceremony and said the achievements of Ashish and Premchand reflect the strength of Jamshedpur’s sporting ecosystem. He credited the dedication of athletes, coaches, and support staff for the journey leading up to the win. He added that Tata Steel remains committed to nurturing sporting talent and creating opportunities for young athletes at national and international levels.
Both players have come up through the Naval Tata Hockey Academy’s development programme and have delivered strong performances in recent years. Ashish Tani Puti, a defender from Jharkhand, was among the standout performers of the tournament and finished as its top goal scorer. Premchand Soy played a central role in midfield, contributing through tactical discipline and consistent performance across the campaign.
Tata Steel pointed to the role of its sports academies and high-performance training set-up in shaping young athletes. The company reiterated its commitment to strengthening grassroots sport through coaching, infrastructure, and competitive exposure for aspiring players.
The event also recognised the contributions of coaching and support staff who have worked with the two players through their development at the academy.
