India U-18 Hockey Teams To Face Australia In Bhopal Exposure Series Ahead Of Asia Cup

The Indian U-18 men’s and women’s hockey teams will each play a four-match exposure series against Australia from May 15 to 20 at the Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai Ji) Central Hockey Academy, Bhopal , as part of preparations for the upcoming U-18 Asia Cup in Japan .

The series follows a month-long national coaching camp at SAI Bhopal , which began on April 19 and featured around 84 players (42 men and 42 women) . The camp has focused on improving technical skills, tactical awareness, and match temperament , with final squad selection expected after the Australia series.

The matches are being seen as a crucial part of Hockey India’s structured youth development pathway , aimed at grooming players for future senior international competition. Officials said the exposure games will help bridge the gap between domestic training and high-intensity international hockey .

The U-18 Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan , scheduled later this month, will be the first major international assignment for the selected squads, making the Bhopal series a key evaluation stage.

Men’s coach Sardar Singh said the camp has focused on strengthening fundamentals across all positions and preparing players for modern hockey demands. He added that matches against Australia will help test combinations and assess players under pressure in real match conditions.

Women’s coach Rani Rampal said the series offers an important opportunity for players to experience a higher level of competition and apply their training in match situations. She noted that it will also help identify players ready to step up for international duties.

Both coaches emphasised that the exposure series will play a vital role in finalising squads and preparing players for the intensity of continental competition, with performance in these matches expected to significantly influence final selection for the Asia Cup.