India, July 1 -- Defender Anmol Ekka will lead a 22-member Indian Junior (U-21) men's hockey team at the upcoming exposure tour of Belgium, scheduled from July 5 to 18.

The tour will be the team's first assignment under coach Frederic Soyez of France and will serve as a key preparatory phase ahead of the Junior Asia Cup later this year. The young Indian side will face some of Europe's strongest hockey nations during the tour, playing two matches each against Austria and Belgium, and one match each against Germany and the Netherlands. The exposure tour is expected to provide valuable international match experience while helping the team test its combinations and playing style ahead of the continental tournament. The goalkeeping unit compr...