Asia Cup Hockey 2025: India move to Super 4 stage

 


The 12th edition of the Men's Asia Cup Hockey kicked off on August 29, 2025, at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium in Rajgir, India . Featuring eight top Asian teams, the tournament not only crowns the continental champion but also offers a coveted direct qualification spot for the 2026 FIH Men's World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands . Notably, Pakistan and Oman withdrew from the event, making way for Bangladesh and Kazakhstan as late replacements . As defending champions, South Korea aim to retain their title, while India, with three previous Asia Cup wins, look to reclaim the trophy on home ground .

India’s Campaign: Solid Start, Super Four Bound

India has made a clinical start to their Asia Cup campaign by leading Pool A with a perfect record:

  • India 4–3 China: In their opening match, captain Harmanpreet Singh redeemed an earlier penalty miss with an electrifying hat-trick, guiding India to an intense 4-3 win .

  • India 3–2 Japan: In a nail-biter, India edged past Japan, with Harmanpreet again on target and Suraj Karkera delivering crucial saves to preserve the victory—even after finishing with 10 men due to a yellow card . India led 2-0 at half time but Japan came back strong making it 2-1 with a quick counter attack in the 3rd quarter but India's penalty corner goal through their skipper at the end of 3rd quarter restored the 2 goal cushion for the hosts . Japan managed to reduce the target to 3-2 late in the game but it was too late . 

  • India 15–0 Kazakhstan: India unleashed a goal fest to top Pool A, with multiple players—including Abhishek, Jugraj Singh, Sukhjeet Singh—scoring freely in a dominant display .

With this run, India secured their Super Four berth, leading Pool A with momentum and confidence .

Other Teams: Racing Ahead in the Tournament

Pool B Standouts

  • Malaysia (4–1 v South Korea): Malaysia pulled off a stunning upset against defending champions South Korea, with Akhimullah Anuar netting a hat-trick to secure two wins from two matches .

  • South Korea (7–0 v Chinese Taipei): Despite the surprise defeat to Malaysia, South Korea began their campaign with a dominant 7-0 win, reaffirming their strength .

  • Bangladesh (8–3 v Chinese Taipei): In another explosive encounter, Bangladesh beat Chinese Taipei with an emphatic 8-3 scoreline, underlining their potential to compete at this level .

  • China: Despite losing to India, China managed to qualify for the Super Fours, securing their spot with a draw against Japan .

Tournament at a Glance

Team Campaign Snapshot
India Perfect Pool A results; top-seed & Super Four bound
Malaysia Two wins; stunned South Korea
South Korea Powerful win, earlier setback
China Steady performance; Super Four qualification
Bangladesh High-scoring win, vying for recognition

With the group stages wrapped up, the Super Four stage is set to heat up from early September. India, Malaysia, South Korea, and China will compete in a round-robin to determine the finalists, and ultimately, the Asia Cup champion who will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

India, riding high on form and playing at home, is poised to be a strong contender for the title. Malaysia’s upset run, South Korea’s consistency, and China’s resilience promise a thrilling next phase.



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