Naval Tata Hockey Academy Jamshedpur trio named in India U-18 squad for Australia tour

Jamshedpur, May 8: Naval Tata Hockey Academy has announced the selection of three of its cadets — Premchand Soy, Jaysan Kandulna and Ashish Tani Purti — in the Indian U-18 Men’s Hockey Team for the upcoming four-match series against Australia.

The series will be held at the SAI Central Centre from May 15 to May 20, 2026, and is expected to serve as a key preparatory assignment ahead of the Men’s U-18 Asia Cup in Japan later this month.

The trio earned their places in the final 24-member Indian squad following a week-long National Coaching Camp, where 42 probables were assessed on technical ability, match fitness and tactical preparedness.

Representing different core positions for the national side, the selected cadets include:

Ashish Tani Purti – Defender
Premchand Soy – Midfielder
Jaysan Kandulna – Forward

The Australia series is expected to provide crucial international exposure and high-intensity match experience ahead of the Men’s U-18 Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Kakamigahara from May 29 to June 6, 2026.

Congratulating the players on their achievement, Gurmeet Singh Rao, Project Director NTHA, said, “The selection of Premchand, Jaysan and Ashish reflects the hard work, commitment and competitive environment that the Academy strives to build for young athletes. Opportunities like these are important milestones in their development journey, and we are confident they will make the most of this exposure at the international level.”

NTHA continues to focus on building a strong pipeline of emerging hockey talent through structured training, professional coaching and holistic athlete development, contributing to the growth of Indian hockey at the national and international stage.