Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Anmol Ekka has been named captain of the Indian hockey squad that will take part in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2026.
Apart from Anmol, there are five more players from Odisha in the 20-member squad that will travel to China’s Moqi for the Junior Asia Cup from August 30 to September 13.
They are — Vivek Lakra, Rohit Kullu, Sanjit Tirkey, Adrohit Ekka and Aryan Xess.
Vivek is one of the two goalkeepers in the squad, while Anmol, Rohit and Sanjit are defenders, Adrohit a midfielder and Aryan a forward.
Another Odisha boy Ritik Lakra has been named as one of the Alternate players, the other being Kunal Tewatia.
The squad is currently training at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bengaluru under the guidance of newly-appointed coach Frederic Soyez, a Frenchman
INDIA SQUAD FOR JUNIOR ASIA CUP HOCKEY
Goalkeepers: Vivek Lakra (Odisha), Kunal Tewatia.
Defenders: Anmol Ekka (Captain), Rohit Kullu, Sanjit Tirkey (all Odisha), Chirag, Ravinder, Ashu Maurya, Sukhvinder.
Midfielders: Adrohit Ekka (Odisha), Harpal, Jeetpal, Manmeet Singh Rai.
Forwards: Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Gursewak Singh, Aryan Xess (Odisha), Lovenoor Singh.
Alternate Players: Arjun Santosh Hargude, Ritik Lakra (Odisha).
