The Asia Cup Hockey 2025 is scheduled to take place from August 27th to September 7th in Rajgir, Bihar. A total of 8 teams, including India and Pakistan, were initially expected to participate in this prestigious tournament.
Sports News: A significant development has occurred ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup Hockey 2025, set to be held from August 27th to September 7th in Rajgir, Bihar, India. The Pakistan hockey team has withdrawn from the tournament citing security concerns, following which Hockey India extended an invitation to Bangladesh.
This tournament is not just a continental competition; qualification for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup is also at stake. The winning team of the tournament will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the top five teams will secure a place in the World Cup Qualifiers.
Pakistan Declines to Visit India Citing Security Concerns
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) informed the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) via letter that their team would be unable to travel to India. An Indian hockey official informed ‘The Hindu’ that: The Indian government had approved visas for the Pakistani players, but Pakistan withdrew at the last moment due to security concerns.
The ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan and the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack have directly impacted this decision. Sports activities between the two countries have been limited for the past few years. In cricket, India has also refused to play in Pakistan, leading to tournaments like the Asia Cup 2023 being held in the UAE.
Hockey India Extends Invitation to Bangladesh
Following Pakistan's withdrawal, Hockey India took swift action by inviting Bangladesh to participate in the Asia Cup. This step was taken to ensure that the tournament proceeds with the scheduled 8 teams and to maintain the competition's balance. According to a Hockey India official: Our objective is to conduct the tournament successfully without any disruptions. Bangladesh is a prepared and competitive team, ensuring that the level of competition remains unaffected.
Asia Cup Hockey 2025: Participating Teams
8 teams will participate in this prestigious tournament, with Bangladesh now playing in place of Pakistan:
- India (Host)
- China
- Japan
- Malaysia
- South Korea
- Oman
- Chinese Taipei
- Bangladesh (Replacing Pakistan)
Rajgir in Bihar is hosting an international hockey competition for the first time. The state government and Hockey India are making extensive preparations to ensure the event is a success. Special security arrangements, a state-of-the-art hockey stadium, and world-class facilities for the players have been ensured.
