The Indian soft hockey teams have announced their captains for the upcoming 1st South Asian Championship, scheduled to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal from May 20 to 22, 2026. Lakhan More will lead the men's team, while Keerthiga will captain the women's side.
Ramesh Singh, general secretary of the Amateur Soft Hockey Federation of India, confirmed that the Indian team is fully prepared to represent the nation in South Asia. The grand closing ceremony of the Indian training camp for the championship took place on Monday at the Dronacharya Sports Academy in Jaipur, marked by patriotism and enthusiasm.
The ceremony witnessed athletes displaying discipline and determination, with chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram' filling the air. The Indian contingent received best wishes as they prepared for the international competition.
Key Officials and Coaches
Dr Ashutosh Pant, president of the Amateur Soft Hockey Federation of India, was the chief guest. Special guests included Indian Soft Hockey League Vice Chairman Dr Aditya Nag and General Secretary Ramesh Singh. Team coaches Kapil Sharma, Harshit Yadav, Mukesh, and Aqeel Ahmed encouraged the players, expressing confidence that the team would create history in South Asia.
Team Lineups
The men's team, captained by Lakhan More, includes Mohit Meena (vice-captain), Anil Patil, Sahil Sapkal, Sahil Rege, Anish Parshurami, Rishikesh Sarolkar, Krishna Swami, Junaid Khan, Vijayraj G, Mahendran P, and Jeevanandam M. The women's team, led by Keerthiga, features Anamika Sharma (vice-captain), Amrita Godara, Bindu Gora, Uzma Khan, Himali Singh, Ayushi Sengar, and Bhagwati Godara. The women's team is coached by Devanshi Baghel.
Growing Popularity of Soft Hockey
Dr Ashutosh Pant noted that soft hockey is rapidly gaining popularity among India's youth. He emphasized that Indian players are poised to bring glory to the country through dedication and hard work, urging them to enter the field with confidence, discipline, and patriotism.
The closing ceremony honored the players, who were greeted with the tricolor and best wishes for their victory march. The event was filled with patriotism and sportsmanship.
