Jharkhand has once again underlined its reputation as a powerhouse of Indian hockey with six players from the state securing places in the Indian men's and women's teams for the Youth Hockey 5s Asian Championship 2026.
The continental tournament is scheduled to take place in Muscat, Oman, from July 20 to 25.
The 10-member women's squad features five players from Jharkhand—Sandipa Kumari, Pushpa Manjhi, Shruti Kumari, Neelam Topno and Khilli Kumari. Ashish Tani Purti has been included in the 10-member Indian men's team, taking the state's overall representation to six players.
The squads were finalised after evaluating performances during the ongoing national coaching camps. While the women's camp is being conducted in Bhopal from July 4 to 18, the men's camp is currently underway in Chandigarh.
Notably, all five women selected from Jharkhand were already among the 15-member sub-junior national training group preparing for the championship in Bhopal, reflecting the state's strong presence in India's junior hockey setup.
Also read: FIH women's Nations Cup: India beat New Zealand
Welcoming the selections, Hockey Jharkhand president Bholanath Singh said the achievement highlights the steady growth of hockey in the state. He attributed the success to sustained grassroots development and the combined efforts of the Jharkhand government and Hockey Jharkhand in nurturing young talent.
Jharkhand's contribution to Indian hockey extends beyond the Youth Hockey 5s Championship. Four players from the state are currently touring the United Kingdom with the Indian junior women's team, while another four have earned places in the senior Indian women's squad for the forthcoming Asian Games.
With the latest selections, 13 women hockey players from Jharkhand are now representing India across the senior, junior and sub-junior levels, reinforcing the state's status as one of the country's most productive centres for hockey talent.
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