India’s Ashish Tani Purti and Nousheen Naz Finish as Top Scorers at U18 Hockey Asia Cup 2026

Indian hockey's future appears brighter than ever after two emerging stars, Ashish Tani Purti and Nousheen Naz, finished as the leading goalscorers in the men's and women's competitions respectively at the U18 Hockey Asia Cup 2026.

While India's men's team lifted the continental title and the women's team secured a bronze medal, the tournament also showcased the country's growing attacking talent. Purti ended the competition with an impressive 13 goals, while Naz scored 12 times to emerge as the leading scorer in the women's event.

The achievement marks a rare double for India, underlining the strength of the country's youth development system and the depth of talent emerging through state academies and national programmes.

Purti was at the heart of India's successful campaign in the men's tournament. The young forward finished with 13 goals and consistently delivered in the biggest moments of the competition. His influence was most evident during the knockout stages, where he emerged as India's go-to player under pressure.

India's journey to the title was not straightforward. After opening with a dominant 13-0 win over Kazakhstan, the team suffered a 2-4 defeat against hosts Japan in the group stage. However, the setback proved to be a turning point as head coach Sardar Singh adjusted the team's tactical approach and strengthened the defensive structure.

Purti responded with a series of match-winning performances. In the semi-final against Pakistan, India found themselves trailing before mounting a remarkable comeback. Purti produced one of the standout displays of the tournament, scoring four goals, including three penalty corner conversions in the closing stages, to lead India to a thrilling 5-3 victory.

He saved his best for the final against Japan. Seeking revenge for their earlier defeat, India dominated the championship match, winning 4-1. Purti scored a hat-trick, with all three goals coming from penalty corners, showcasing his exceptional drag-flicking ability and composure under pressure.

His 13-goal tally not only secured the tournament's top scorer award but also played a decisive role in helping India claim its third U18 Asia Cup title and first in a decade.

While Purti starred in the men's competition, Nousheen Naz was equally influential for the Indian women's team. The Madhya Pradesh forward finished with 12 goals and emerged as the leading scorer in the women's tournament, despite India narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Under the guidance of former Indian captain Rani Rampal, the women's team played an aggressive attacking brand of hockey throughout the competition.

Naz announced herself early in the tournament by scoring both goals in India's opening 2-1 win over Malaysia. She continued her impressive form against South Korea before delivering a record-breaking performance against Singapore. In India's astonishing 25-0 victory over Singapore, Naz scored seven goals, highlighting her sharp positioning, movement inside the circle and clinical finishing. The performance became one of the most memorable individual displays of the tournament.

She also delivered in crucial knockout matches. Naz opened the scoring in India's semi-final against China with a brilliant backhand finish and later added another goal in the bronze medal match against South Korea as India secured a comfortable 3-0 victory to claim third place.

Her 12-goal haul reflected her consistency throughout the tournament and established her as one of the brightest young forwards in Asian hockey.

The scoring statistics underline just how dominant both players were. Purti averaged approximately 2.17 goals per game across India's six matches, while Naz finished with an even higher average of 2.40 goals per game during the women's tournament. Such numbers are exceptional at the continental level and reflect the influence both players had on their respective teams.

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Their performances also complemented India's broader success at the tournament, where the men's team won gold and the women's team earned bronze.

The success of Purti and Naz is not accidental. Both players are products of India's increasingly effective grassroots and academy structure, which continues to identify and nurture talent from across the country. The U18 Asia Cup once again demonstrated the benefits of combining state-level academies with national coaching programmes.

Naz's story is particularly inspiring. Coming from Seoni in Madhya Pradesh, she overcame significant financial challenges before earning a place at the Gwalior Women's Hockey Academy. Access to professional coaching and facilities transformed her career, eventually helping her become the leading scorer at the continental championship.

Similarly, Purti's rise reflects the growing depth of India's men's hockey pipeline, which continues to produce technically skilled and tactically aware players capable of competing on the international stage.

For Indian hockey, the significance of the U18 Hockey Asia Cup extends beyond medals and trophies. The emergence of Ashish Tani Purti and Nousheen Naz as the top scorers in their respective tournaments offers a glimpse into the next generation of talent that could eventually represent India at senior World Cups and Olympic Games.

Their performances in Japan were not just individual achievements they were evidence of a development system beginning to deliver consistent results.

With Purti firing India to gold and Naz leading the women's attack to a bronze medal, Indian hockey leaves the U18 Asia Cup with both immediate success and long-term optimism for the future.