Having registered a ninth-place finish in the 2023 edition held at Bhubaneswar, India will be aiming to bring the gold home, riding on the back of the momentum of two back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, an Asia Cup title win, two Asian Champions Trophy wins and an Asia Cup gold.
Malaysia came from a goal down to crush lower-ranked Bangladesh 4-1 before title holders Korea thrashed Chinese Taipei 7-0 in Pool B matches of the men's Asia Cup hockey tournament
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.
Malaysia topped the pool with three wins from as many matches, while Korea finished second with six points.
Hockey: India seek World Cup berth through Asia Cup triumph; up against China in opener
The Indian men's hockey team's failure to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup has highlighted significant issues, including a lack of intent in player transition and questionable selection decisions, according to former players and experts.
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.
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.
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 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.
Star drag-flicket Gurjit Kaur made it 4-0 by converting a penalty corner in the 10th minute.
Hockey India names 24-member men's hockey team for tour of Australia
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.
Malaysia topped the pool with three wins from as many matches, while Korea finished second with six points.
They beat Japan 7-1 for their third straight victory in the tournament.
Hockey India has announced a 15-member sub-junior men's squad for a national coaching camp in Chandigarh. The camp, led by Sardar Singh, will prepare the team for the inaugural Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, Oman, focusing on the new format's tactical and technical demands.
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.
The 24-member Indian junior men's hockey team, led by new coach Frederic Soyez, has departed for an exposure tour in Belgium from July 7 to 17.
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.
The country comes first for us. Asia Cup is happening in India, and whatever the government advises us, we will abide by tha
India have come into the tournament without the injured duo of veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia and ace drag-flicker Deepika.
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.
Former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha has publicly questioned Hockey India's decision to switch the national team's jersey colour to orange, arguing that the team's identity and legacy have always been associated with blue.
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 junior women's hockey team concluded a seven-match exposure tour of the UK, securing three wins and four losses against various international teams. This tour served as crucial preparation for the upcoming Under-21 Asia Cup in China, providing valuable experience and insights into areas for improvement.
Pakistan opted out of the ongoing Asia Cup in Bihar following the military conflict between the two countries, citing security concerns.
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.
Pakistan's hockey team faced embarrassment in a five-a-side match against India in Muscat when umpires penalised them for fielding six players instead of five. This led to India scoring 8 goals. The incident has prompted the Pakistan Hockey Federation President to demand an explanation, recalling a similar blunder in the 2022 Asia Cup that cost them a World Cup qualification.
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.
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.
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.
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.
India won the Asia Cup hockey title after a ten-year hiatus, beating Malaysia 2-1 in the final in Dhaka on Sunday.
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.
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.
A hat-trick by Tushar Khandekar was the highlight of a 5-2 victory in the final of the tournament.
Former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh has lauded current captain Harmanpreet Singh as a 'trump card' for the upcoming FIH World Cup, citing his aggressive playing style and consistent performance in crucial moments. Jugraj, who sees his own reflection in Harmanpreet's game, rates him among the world's top three drag-flickers and believes the team is well-prepared to end India's long wait for a World Cup medal.
'We have enough time to build towards Asian Games and World Cup.'
