The Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team departed from Bengaluru on July 5, 2026, beginning a two‑week exposure tour of Belgium that will see them contest six high‑stakes fixtures.
Guided by newly appointed head coach Frederic Soyez, the side enters a competitive phase that blends seasoned juniors with emerging talent, aiming to fine‑tune tactics before the upcoming Junior Asia Cup.
A Strategic Stop in Belgium
The tour features encounters with Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, each opponent offering a distinct style of play that the Indian coaching staff hopes to decode.
Matches are slated to run from July 7 through July 17, providing a compact but intense schedule that will test the squad’s depth and adaptability on the international stage.
Beyond the immediate results, the Belgium leg serves as a crucial rehearsal for the Junior Asia Cup, allowing the team to experiment with formations, assess fitness levels, and build chemistry ahead of the continental showdown.