The Men's Hockey Asia Cup 2025 is set to commence on August 29 and will continue until September 7, 2025, at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium in Rajgir, Bihar, India. This 12th edition of the quadrennial tournament is a crucial event, as it serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.

Eight teams will participate in the tournament, divided into two pools. Pool A consists of India, Japan, China, and Kazakhstan, while Pool B includes South Korea, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei. Pakistan and Oman were originally slated to participate but withdrew due to various reasons, leading to their replacement by Bangladesh and Kazakhstan.

The tournament will follow a round-robin format within each pool. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Super 4s stage, where they will again compete in a round-robin format. The top two teams from the Super 4s will then proceed to the final, scheduled for September 7, while the third and fourth-placed teams will compete for the bronze medal on the same day.

The winner of the Asia Cup 2025 will secure a direct spot in the 2026 Hockey World Cup. Teams finishing from second to sixth place will advance to the World Cup Qualifiers, to be held in early 2026.

India will begin their campaign against China on August 29 at 3:00 PM IST. Following this, they will face Japan on August 31 at 3:00 PM IST and Kazakhstan on September 1 at 7:30 PM IST.

India Squad:

The Indian squad, led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, comprises a mix of experienced players. The team includes:

• Goalkeepers: Krishan Pathak, Suraj Karkera
• Defenders: Sumit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh
• Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad
• Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh
• Reserves: Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Selvam Karthi

China Squad:

The China Men's Hockey Team has arrived in Rajgir to participate in the Men's Asia Cup 2025. China, currently ranked 23rd in the FIH World Rankings, is placed in Pool A along with hosts India, Japan, and Kazakhstan. The China squad includes:

• Ao Xu
• Chen Qijun
• Gao Jiesheng
• Chen Chengfu
• Meng Yuanfeng
• Li Pengfei
• Chen Chongcong (C)
• Lu Yuanlin
• Meng Dihao
• Xu Jiebin
• Du Shihao
• Zhang Xiaojia
• Ao Suozhu
• Meng Nan
• Lin Changliang
• Guo Xiaolong
• Wang Weihao (GK)
• Wang Caiyu (GK)
• Ao Yang
• Chen Benhai

Live Streaming Details:

Fans in India can watch the Asia Cup Hockey 2025 live on Sony TEN 1 HD/SD channels. Live streaming will be available on the SonyLIV app and website.

With a World Cup qualification at stake, the Asia Cup 2025 promises to be a thrilling tournament. India, as the host nation and a three-time champion, will be aiming to secure their fourth continental crown and an early berth in the 2026 FIH Men's Hockey World Cup.