Sri Lanka name squad for junior hockey Cup

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka will contest the Junior Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup 2026, which will be held from June 23 to July 1 in Kazakhstan which will serve as a qualifying competition for the upcoming Junior Asia Cup, with eight Asian nations competing for honours.

With hockey administration in Sri Lanka currently inactive, the Ministry of Sports is overseeing the sport’s affairs and has taken steps to ensure the country’s participation in the tournament.

Sri Lanka have been drawn in Group ‘A’ alongside Indonesia, South Korea and Tajikistan. Group ‘B’ comprises Iran, hosts Kazakhstan, Thailand and Uzbekistan.

According to the tournament schedule, Sri Lanka will open their campaign against Tajikistan on June 23, face South Korea on June 24 and meet Indonesia on June 26 in the preliminary round.

Bangladesh is the most successful team in the history of the competition with three titles while China has won the championship twice. Sri Lanka’s best performance came in 2003 when they finished as runners-up.

Sri Lanka squad: Nethmina Pathirana (captain), Madduma Gunawardhana (GK), Nadil Rathnayaka, Ravihara Mahamada, Nehan Wijayanayake, Arkan Mohamed, Nadeeja Oyagawa, Kavindu Udawatte, Sithum Warnakulasooriya, Shenal Domawalage, Damiru Yothuwala, Chamod Hewavitharana, Omesha Dewale, Januda Ratnayake, Methushel Fernando, Abhishek Gamagedara (GK), Oshada Udagedara and Senura Liyanage