India and Pakistan in same pool for Hockey Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023

The tournament will commence in May.

The Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 will start on May 23 and conclude on June 01, 2023. The ninth edition of the tournament as announced by the Asian Hockey Federation after approval from FIH (International Hockey Federation) will take place in Salalah, Oman.

A total of 10 junior national teams from Asia will participate in the tournament. They are Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Thailand and Uzbekistan. Among them, the top five teams — i.e., India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia — have been an automatic qualification based on their world rankings. Whereas, Bangladesh, Oman, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei won their qualification from the Men’s Junior AHF Cup held in Muscat, Oman in January 2023.

Only athletes born on or after January 1, 2002, making them 21 years old or less are eligible to participate in the tournament.

The top three teams from the tournament, apart from hosts Malaysia, will qualify for the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2023. Malaysia have already qualified as the host nation.

“The Asian Junior Competitions aim to set a benchmark, creating a significant exposure and developmental opportunity for our young athletes in Asia. We aspire for our youth to experience only the best," Asian Hockey President Dato Fumio Ogura was quoted as saying in a release.

Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023 Groups

Pool A

India, Pakistan, Japan, Thailand, and Chinese Taipei

Pool B

South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan 

India’s Schedule for Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023

24th May - India vs Chinese Taipei 

25th May - India vs Japan

27th May - India vs Pakistan

28th May - India vs Thailand

Full Schedule Here.

The Men’s Junior Asia Cup was inaugurated in 1988 and since has been serving as the qualification tournament for the Men’s FIH Junior Hockey World Cup. Heavyweights Pakistan defeated South Korea to claim the maiden trophy. They went on to win the Junior Asia Cup for two more editions.

India won the trophy for the first time in 2004 and overall have won the Championships thrice (in 2004, 2008, and 2015). Only four countries have been successful in lifting the trophy - India and Pakistan (thrice), Malaysia and South Korea (once each).

The last edition was set to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2021 but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ninth edition (currently) is set to be held in Oman for the first time.