Bhopal: The Indian men’s hockey team launched its U-18 Asia Cup 2026 campaign in spectacular fashion, demolishing Kazakhstan 13-0 in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Friday. The victory was built around outstanding performances from three Madhya Pradesh youngsters.
Goalkeeper Ayush Rajak Shines
Goalkeeper Ayush Rajak, a rising talent from MP, delivered a flawless performance between the posts, preserving a clean sheet as the Indian defense repelled every Kazakhstan attack. Rajak’s composure and timely saves gave the Blue Colts the confidence to press forward until the final whistle, ensuring the rivals never found a momentum-shifting breakthrough.
Forward Duo from MP Stars
If Ayush stood out with his timely interventions at the goalmouth, so did the forwards from MP — Ansh Bahutra and Gazee Khan — with their decisive contributions. Ansh, another rising prospect, was instrumental in India’s repeated forays into the rival box and scoring spree, himself finding the net twice. His conversions, both from penalty corners, underlined his potency in set-piece situations, marking him out as a player to watch as the Blue Colts progress through Pool A. Gazee, also a product of the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, chipped in with a goal that extended India’s early control and boosted the state’s representation on the scoresheet.
Captain Leads with Hat-Trick
Overall, India dominated the field from the first whistle, with captain Ketan Kushwaha spearheading the attack and finishing with a hat-trick of goals. His clinical movement and finishing were matched by lively supporting performances from Prahalad Rajbhar, Ashish Tani Purti, and Shahrukh Ali, each of whom played pivotal roles in the rout. Prahalad netted a brace, Ashish converted multiple penalty corners, and Shahrukh’s thunderous early strikes put the contest beyond doubt inside the opening half.
First Half Onslaught
India set and maintained a relentless tempo, with early goals in the first quarter laying the foundation for an onslaught. Shahrukh struck in the 12th minute, and Rajbhar followed two minutes later to give India a 2-0 advantage after 15 minutes. The second quarter saw Ketan and Gazee extend the lead, and by halftime, the Indian U-18s were leading 6-0.
Penalty Corner Dominance
Penalty corners proved fruitful for the Colts in the third quarter — four of India’s five goals in that period came from set plays — as Bahutra completed his brace and Kushwaha added two swift goals to cap a dominant 11-0 lead going into the final quarter. Akash Deep and Prahalad added late goals to seal the 13-0 scoreline.
Looking Ahead
The commanding win leaves India well placed in Pool A, even as the focus now shifts to a tougher test against tournament hosts Japan on May 31. Ayush, Ansh, and Gazee’s performances will not only offer plenty of encouragement for aspiring hockey stars in MP but also give the Colts a huge burst of confidence and belief as they look to build on their promising start on the continental stage.
