The Indian junior men’s hockey team will look to carry forward their rich legacy at the 13th Sultan of Johor Cup, with head coach PR Sreejesh emphasising a fearless and fast brand of hockey as the team aims for top honours in the prestigious tournament beginning Saturday.
The event, scheduled from October 11 to 18 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, will feature some of the best junior teams in the world, with India determined to reclaim the title and build momentum ahead of the Junior World Cup later this year.
India have been one of the most consistent sides in the history of the Sultan of Johor Cup, winning three titles (2013, 2014, 2022), second only to Great Britain, who have four. The Indian juniors have also clinched four Silver (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019) and two Bronze medals (2023, 2024), underlining their strong presence in the competition.
“The Sultan of Johor Cup has always been a special tournament for us, it’s where many of our current senior players first made their mark,” Sreejesh said ahead of the team’s departure.
“It provides young players with the perfect stage to test themselves against the best in the world and understand what it takes to perform consistently at the international level,” he further said.
He added that the team’s preparation focused on balance and adaptability. “Our preparation has been focused on building a well-balanced team, one that can combine structure with creativity, and discipline with aggression. The boys have trained with great intensity over the past few weeks, and there is a strong sense of purpose in the group. This tournament will also serve as a great platform to prepare for the Junior World Cup later this year.”
Sreejesh stressed that while India respect every opponent, their priority remains executing their own brand of hockey. “We respect every opponent, but our focus is on playing our brand of hockey — fast, fearless, and intelligent. The team knows the legacy India holds in this tournament, and the players are determined to uphold that tradition and aim for nothing less than the top,” he said.
India will open their campaign against Great Britain on October 11, followed by matches against New Zealand (October 12), Pakistan (October 14), Australia (October 15), and hosts Malaysia (October 17).
The top two teams from the round-robin stage will face off in the final on October 18.