The Asian Cup champion Indian men's hockey team is once again set to take the field with renewed intentions, putting behind their recent poor form. India's first match in the ongoing Hockey Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir will be against China today at 3 PM.
Sports News: The three-time champion Indian team will enter the field aiming to win the Asia Cup hockey tournament and qualify for next year's World Cup, leaving their recent poor form behind. India will face China in their opening match of the tournament, which will start at 3 PM. India and China are placed in Pool-A along with Japan and Kazakhstan, while Pool-B includes five-time champions South Korea, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei.
A Big Opportunity for India
India has been placed in Pool-A, where they will compete against China, Japan, and Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, Pool-B features five-time champions South Korea, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei. The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals. The final match will be played on September 7. This time, Kazakhstan is participating in the Asia Cup after three decades, replacing Oman. Pakistan was supposed to play instead of Bangladesh, but they withdrew due to security reasons.
This is the last qualification opportunity for the Indian team for the World Cup. Previously, the team finished seventh in the FIH Pro League due to poor performance in the European leg and missed out on direct qualification. After winning only one out of eight matches and losing seven consecutive matches, the team is under heavy criticism.
Coach Craig Fulton admitted that this tournament is the most important event of the year for them. He stated that the best Indian team has been fielded and that players now need to improve both their strategy and their game.
Defense and Goalkeeping are India's Biggest Concerns
India's biggest weaknesses have been defense and goalkeeping. In the Pro League, India conceded 26 goals in eight matches and faced defeats due to repeated defensive errors. Captain Harmanpreet Singh holds responsibility for both defense and penalty corners. In Harmanpreet's absence, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, and Sanjay failed to live up to expectations. In goalkeeping, Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera have faltered under pressure after the retirement of P.R. Sreejesh.
However, the Indian team's strength has been its attacking game. India scored 94 goals in 14 matches in the 2023 Asian Games and the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy. But experts believe the team needs to avoid complacency and display a balanced game. Penalty corners are India's weapon, but over-reliance on them can also prove dangerous. Coach Fulton wants the team to score more goals from open play and try new ways to break down opposition defenses.
India Cannot Underestimate China
Although China is ranked 23rd in the world, it would be a big mistake for the Indian team to underestimate them. The Chinese team is known for its counter-attacks. They secured third place in the Asia Cup held in Malaysia in 2009. China has only participated once in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where they finished 11th. They finished 10th in the 2018 Hockey World Cup.
