Tag: HockeyIndia

The Indian men’s hockey team, fresh from their Olympic bronze medal triumph, will embark on a new chapter as they aim to defend their Asian Champions Trophy title in Donghae, South Korea. The tournament, which begins on Sunday, will pit India against top Asian hockey nations, including China, Japan, Pakistan, Korea, and Malaysia.

India, the only team to have won the ACT title four times, will be the favorites to retain their crown. Led by skipper Harmanpreet Singh, the team boasts a blend of experienced Olympians and promising youngsters.

“We want to begin the fresh Olympic cycle by winning this tournament,” said Harmanpreet. “We have a few youngsters trying to make their impact in the team, and we’ll be looking to play a structured defense against strong teams like Japan, Malaysia, and Pakistan.”

India’s opening match will be against hosts China on Sunday. They will then face Japan, Malaysia, Korea, and arch-rivals Pakistan in the round-robin stage. The semifinals and final are scheduled for September 16 and 17.

Young midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad, Harmanpreet’s deputy for this tournament, emphasized the importance of the ACT in assessing the progress of Asian teams ahead of the 2026 Asian Games.

“This tournament will give us a chance to see the progress the Asian teams are making,” said Vivek. “We’re excited to play quality matches and entertain the hockey-loving people of this region.”

The Indian team has been impressed by the facilities in Donghae, which they believe is one of the most beautiful hockey venues in the world.

“The facility is incredible,” said Vivek. “The excitement of hosting the first international tournament here is quite evident, and we’re looking forward to playing quality matches and entertaining the hockey-loving people of this region.”

Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh has emphasized the need to move on from the euphoria of their Olympic bronze medal triumph and focus on retaining their Asian Champions Trophy title in Hulunbuir, China.

Under Harmanpreet’s leadership, India secured a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal in Paris, a feat not achieved in over half a century. However, the skipper believes it’s time to turn the page and prepare for the Asian showpiece, which will be held from September 8 to 17.

“With a brief break after the Paris Olympics, the team is ready to take on the best hockey playing nations in Asia and prove its mettle,” Harmanpreet said. “We had a good outing in Paris, but hockey is a very close game, we cannot rest on our laurels.”

India will face stiff competition from Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, and hosts China in the Asian Champions Trophy. The team will begin their campaign against China on September 8, followed by a match against Japan on September 9.

After a one-day break, India will take on Malaysia on September 11, followed by Korea on September 12 and arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals slated for September 16, with the final scheduled for September 17.

India are the most successful team in the tournament with four titles, followed by Pakistan (3). India won the last edition in Chennai, beating Malaysia 4-3 in the final.

Vice captain Vivek Sagar Prasad expressed confidence in the team’s ability to defend their title, despite the presence of a few new players. “We will do our best to create a nurturing environment for them on the way to our title defense,” he said.