India were crowned champions of the U-18 Men’s Asia Cup Hockey 2026 after edging past hosts Japan 4-3 in a thrilling final on Saturday. While the victory marked a glorious chapter for Indian hockey, the tournament undoubtedly belonged to Jharkhand’s rising sensation, Ashish Tani Purty, whose extraordinary performances established him as one of the brightest prospects in the sport.
The young forward once again delivered on the biggest stage, scoring a sensational hat-trick in the final, including a goal in the second minute that set India on course for victory. His match-winning display earned him the Player of the Match award for the third consecutive game, underlining his dominance throughout the tournament.
Purty’s heroics were equally decisive in the semifinal against Pakistan. With India under pressure, he produced a stunning four-goal burst in the final quarter to turn the contest around and power his side to a 5-3 victory. Earlier in the group stage, he had also netted a hat-trick against Chinese Taipei.
Finishing the tournament with an astonishing 13 goals, Purty emerged as the competition’s leading scorer. Remarkably, he scored seven goals across the semifinal and final alone, showcasing an exceptional ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most.
Meanwhile, the Indian women’s U-18 team secured the bronze medal by defeating S Korea 3-0. HI announced a cash reward of 3 lakh each for members of the gold medal-winning men’s team and 1 lakh each for players of the bronze medal-winning women’s side
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