Ashish Tani Purti’s impressive hat-trick helped India beat Japan 4-1 in the final of the Men’s U18 Asia Cup 2026. Captain Ketan Kushwaha scored his 8th goal of the tournament.
Having lost to Japan in the group stage, India could not have asked for a better response. Sardar Singh’s side finished the tournament with five wins from six matches, including an impressive 5-3 comeback victory over Pakistan in the semi-final.
India’s U18 Asia Cup Stats
| Played | Won | Lost | Scored | Conceded | FG | PC | PS |
| 6 | 5 | 1 | 41 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 1 |
The Final
Having been beaten by Japan in the pool stage, India came into the final with something to prove. A penalty corner in just 90 seconds and Tani Purti, impressive from the top of the circle throughout the tournament, wasted no opportunity. 1-0.
Japan grew into the first quarter but the Indian defence denied them. The first quarter ended 1-0 in India’s favour.
The second quarter started brightly for Japan too. They won their first penalty corner and looked threatening. India defended well and struck back. Tani Purti stepped up again in the 28th minute to make it 2-0. Prahalad Rajbhar then broke forward and found Kushwaha in front of goal. The captain finished coolly. 3-0 at half-time.
The third quarter saw Tani Purti complete his hat-trick. Varinder Singh’s run at Japan’s defence drew another penalty corner and Tani Purti finished clinically in the 34th minute. India had a 100 percent penalty corner conversion record in the final.
Japan scored a consolation goal through Numada Gaku in the 52nd minute from a penalty corner. They won three more penalty corners in the closing stages but India, who converted all three of their penalty corners while limiting Japan to one goal from four attempts, were not going to let this one slip.
Tani Purti won Player of the Match for his impressive hat-trick.
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The Pool Stage
India opened with a 13-0 win over Kazakhstan and followed it up with a one-sided 13-1 result against Chinese Taipei. The goals were flowing but the real test had not arrived. When it did, India failed it. A complacent performance against Japan ended in a 4-2 defeat.
That defeat forced India to reset.
India beat South Korea 4-1 in their next match to respond strongly to the setback. Captain Ketan Kushwaha scored twice while Varinder Singh and Shahrukh Ali also found the net. Korea pulled one back through captain Yun Jaehyeok, but India were comfortable throughout.
The win ensured India finished the pool stage with three victories from four matches. However, Japan’s perfect record meant India had to settle for second place in Pool A.
The Semi-final
India vs Pakistan lived up to the hype.
India led 1-0 at half-time through a Tani Purti penalty stroke in the 12th minute. Pakistan fought back in the third quarter and led 3-2 going into the final quarter.
3-2 down going into the final quarter, India needed a response. Tani Purti scored three times in seven minutes, in the 49th, 53rd, and 56th minutes, all from penalty corners. India won 5-3. Shahrukh Ali had scored India’s second in the 35th minute.
U18 Asia Cup Results
| Stage | Date | Match | Result |
| Pool | May 29 | India vs Kazakhstan | India 13-0 |
| Pool | May 31 | Japan vs India | Japan 4-2 |
| Pool | June 1 | India vs South Korea | India 4-1 |
| Pool | June 3 | India vs Chinese Taipei | India 13-1 |
| Semi-final | June 5 | India vs Pakistan | India 5-3 |
| Final | June 6 | India vs Japan | India 4-1 |
Tani Purti and Kushwaha: The Standouts
Tani Purti finished the tournament with 13 goals, all but one from set pieces. Across six matches that is more than two goals per game. He scored 12 penalty corners and one penalty stroke.
Remarkably, he scored three hat-tricks across the tournament, against Chinese Taipei, Pakistan in the semi-final, and Japan in the final.
At under-18 level, he already looks like one of India’s most promising drag-flickers.
Kushwaha scored 8 goals across the tournament, five from field play and three from penalty corners.
India’s Top Scorers
| Player | FG | PC | PS | Total |
| Ashish Tani Purti | 0 | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| Ketan Kushwaha (c) | 5 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Shahrukh Ali | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Gazee Khan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Ansh Bahutra | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Individual Honours
Ashish Tani Purti finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 13 goals and was named Player of the Match in the final.
Ayush Rajak was named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
Cash Awards
Hockey India announced a cash award of INR 3 lakh for each player and INR 1.5 lakh for each support staff member.
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