Jalandhar
In a historic milestone for Indian Army Hockey, four players from the Indian Army Hockey Node, Jalandhar Cantonment, have earned selection to the India U-21 Men’s Hockey Team for the upcoming exposure tour of Belgium. This marks the first time that four players from the Indian Army have been selected together to represent the Junior Indian Men’s Hockey Team. The selected players are Jeetpal, Chirag, Aryan, and Prabdeep Singh. The team will compete in six high-intensity matches against Austria, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands from 7 to 17 July 2026. The tour will serve as a crucial preparation camp under newly appointed Head Coach Frederic Soyez ahead of the Men’s Junior Asia Cup later this year. Among the selected players, Prabdeep Singh holds special significance for Punjab, having grown up and played hockey in Jalandhar. He has developed his game through the Indian Army Hockey system, which trains at the Army Hockey Node, Jalandhar Cantonment. The credit for this remarkable achievement goes to the dedicated efforts of the players, the coaching staff, and the entire support team of the Army Hockey Node. Under the guidance of Chief Coach Akash Chikte, an International Hockey Player, the Army Hockey programme has consistently nurtured talented young players capable of representing India at the highest level.
Speaking on the achievement, Chief Coach Akash Chikte said:
“The Army Hockey Team has tremendous potential. Our aim is to continue developing talented players and contribute an even greater number of athletes to the Indian national teams in the coming years. This selection is a proud moment for the entire Army Hockey fraternity and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players and support staff.” The Commanding Officer of the Army Hockey Team, also congratulated the selected players, saying: “These young players have the passion, discipline, and determination to serve the nation through sports. We are confident they will make the country proud with their performances. The entire Army Hockey family is proud of their achievement, and we wish them every success on the international stage.” The selection of four Army players to the Junior Indian Men’s Hockey Team highlights the growing strength of the Indian Army’s hockey development programme and reinforces its commitment to producing world-class athletes for the nation.
