Hockey: India seek World Cup berth through Asia Cup triumph; up against China in opener
A 24-member Indian Junior women's hockey team has travelled to the United Kingdom for an exposure tour, playing matches against junior teams from England, Scotland, the United States, and Belgium, as well as the Scotland senior women's team, to prepare for upcoming international tournaments like the Junior Asia Cup.
India lost 1-4 to China in the title clash and ended runners-up at the women's Asia Cup hockey tournament in Hangzhou, China on Sunday.
The Indian men's hockey team outclassed South Korea 4-1 in the final to win the Asia Cup trophy and qualify for next year's World Cup.
Defending champions India, with several experienced players in their ranks, have the upper hand in their opening encounter against Japan in the sixth men's Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament, starting in Hyderabad on Friday. India had beaten arch-rivals Pakistan to clinch the title in the last edition of the event at Karachi four years ago.
Hockey India names 24-member men's hockey team for tour of Australia
Malaysia topped the pool with three wins from as many matches, while Korea finished second with six points.
India stayed on course to make it a hat-trick of men's junior Asia Cup hockey titles, defeating Malaysia 3-1 to enter the final.
India scored a hard-fought 2-1 victory over China in their last pool match to enter the semi-finals of the seventh junior men's Asia Cup hockey tournament, in Malacca, on Monday. Naveen Antil (19th minute) and Amit Rohidas (57th) scored for India, while China's lone reply came through winger Yu Xin in the 45th minute.
Star drag-flicket Gurjit Kaur made it 4-0 by converting a penalty corner in the 10th minute.
India entered the semi-finals of the seventh women's Asia Cup hockey tournament after holding Malaysia to a 1-1 draw in their last Group A match at the Queen Sirikit Sports Centre in Bangkok on Wednesday. Defender Binita Toppo scored the equaliser in the 27th minute after Juliani Mohamad Din surprised India as early as the fourth minute of the match.
India's sub-junior men's and women's hockey teams secured impressive victories at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, extending their unbeaten runs. The women's team thrashed Kazakhstan 10-0, while the men's team defeated Bangladesh 8-3, showcasing strong performances in the tournament which serves as a World Cup qualifier.
India have come into the tournament without the injured duo of veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia and ace drag-flicker Deepika.
They beat Japan 7-1 for their third straight victory in the tournament.
The country comes first for us. Asia Cup is happening in India, and whatever the government advises us, we will abide by tha
In the 28th minute, Pakistan too got a penalty corner, their third, but they again failed to stop the push and wasted a bright chance.
Akashdeep Singh will lead an 18-member Indian squad in the seventh Junior Asia Cup hockey, scheduled to be held at Malacca, Malaysia, from May 3 to 13. Defender Amit Rohidas is the vice-captain. The nine-nation tournament features Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan opted out of the ongoing Asia Cup in Bihar following the military conflict between the two countries, citing security concerns.
Pakistan is set to review the security situation in India before taking a call on sending its national hockey team for the upcoming Asia Cup and Junior World Cup later this year.
Ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh will continue to serve as captain of the team.
Ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh will continue to serve as captain of the team.
The Indian junior women's hockey team, led by Khaidem Shileima Chanu, will undertake an exposure tour of the United Kingdom from July 5 to 14. Under new coach Tim White, the 24-member squad will play seven matches against teams from Scotland, the United States, England, and Belgium, aiming to fine-tune strategies for upcoming international competitions like the Junior Asia Cup.
India had something to cheer about after missing out on a berth in next year's World Cup as they defeated China 3-3 via the penalty shoot-out, after both the teams were locked 2-2 in regulation time, to clinch the bronze medal in the eighth women's Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh will lead an 18-member squad as India sets out to defend its crown in the eighth Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuantan, Malaysia from May 9 to 16.
The Indian U-21 men's hockey team is set to undertake a crucial tour of Belgium, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands in July 2026. This tour, featuring six high-intensity matches, is a vital preparation phase for the upcoming men's junior Asia Cup under new coach Frederic Soyez, aiming to build team cohesion and identity.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and injured many, the government ordered all Pakistani nationals to leave the country and revoked their visas.
Jasjeet Kaur led the onslaught with three goals as a ruthless India steamrolled Singapore 13-0 to open their women's Asia Cup hockey campaign in style at the Queen Sikrit Sports Centre in Bangkok on Thursday.
'We have enough time to build towards Asian Games and World Cup.'
Rani Ramphal led the charge with six goals as India inched thrashed hosts Thailand 15-0 and inched closer to the semi-finals of the women's Asia Cup hockey tournament at the Queen Sikrit Sports Centre in Bangkok on Friday.
India won the Asia Cup hockey title after a ten-year hiatus, beating Malaysia 2-1 in the final in Dhaka on Sunday.
Indian men's hockey team chief coach Craig Fulton is focused on ending the 51-year World Cup medal drought, aiming for consistency and a strong performance at the upcoming tournament in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Indian men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh believes his side is capable of ending the country's five-decade-long World Cup medal drought, drawing parallels with the team's success at the Tokyo Olympics.
India went through some anxious dying moments before eking out a close 5-4 win over hosts Malaysia and registered their second consecutive win of the eighth junior men's Asia Cup hockey tournament, in Kuantan, on Sunday.
India produced a fine all-round show to hold formidable China 1-1 in their penultimate Group A match and inch towards a place in the semi-finals of the women's Asia Cup hockey in Bangkok on Tuesday.
A hat-trick by Tushar Khandekar was the highlight of a 5-2 victory in the final of the tournament.
The Indian women's hockey team qualified for the Asia Cup final despite playing out a 1-1 draw against Japan after hosts China beat Korea 1-0 in the last match.
The National Ice Hockey Championship has commenced in Dehradun, introducing Under-12 and Under-15 categories for boys and girls for the first time. The month-long event, organised by IHAI, aims to identify and develop young talent, inspired by the Indian women's team's recent success.
The duo, who missed the Afro-Asian Games due to injury, were included in the 18-member team.
Pakistan are drawn in Pool 'A' with Chinese Taipei, Japan and Singapore while holders India are in Pool 'B' with Bangladesh, China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, for the April 20-29 tournament.
India rallied from a goal down to beat Malaysia 2-1 in their final league match and make it to the semi-finals in the sixth Junior Women's Asia Cup Hockey Championship in Bangkok on Tuesday. India finished second in Group A, behind China.
