Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025

Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025

Why in News? 

The Indian men’s hockey team won the 2025 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup with a 4-1 victory over South Korea in the final played in Bihar. With this win, India booked a spot in the 2026 Hockey World Cup.

Highlights of Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025

• Venue: The 12th edition of the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup was held at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium, located within the Rajgir Sports Complex in Bihar, India. The competition took place over ten days, starting on 29 August 2025 and concluding with the final on 7 September 2025.

• Participation: A total of eight teams participated, all belonging to the Asian Hockey Federation. Teams from India, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China, Bangladesh and Kazakhstan took part in the championship. The event saw 24 matches played in total with 164 goals scored.

• Outcomes: 

• • Champion: India
    • It was India’s fourth Asia Cup title, after earlier triumphs in 2003, 2007, and 2017.
    • India qualified for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, to be hosted in the Netherlands and Belgium.
  • Runner-Up: South Korea
  • Third Place: Malaysia
  • Top Scorer: Akhimullah Anuar (12 goals) from Malaysia
  • Best Player: Abhishek Nain from India
  • Best Young Andywalfian Jeffrynus from Malaysia
  • Best Goalkeeper: Kim Jae-hyeon from South Korea

Know About Men’s Asia Cup Hockey

• About: The Men’s Asia Cup is an international men’s field hockey championship organized specifically for teams affiliated with the federation. The tournament was first introduced to provide a structured competition apart from the Olympic and World Cup cycles.

• Background: The Asian Hockey Federation, established in 1958, introduced the Asia Cup in 1982 to strengthen the sport in the region. The first Asia Cup was held in Karachi, Pakistan, marking a new milestone for Asian hockey. The format has evolved and raised the level of hockey across Asia.

• Organisation: The Men’s Asia Cup is directly managed by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). The federation is responsible for scheduling, rules, umpiring appointments, and ensuring that the tournament aligns with international hockey standards. The AHF works closely with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to maintain fair competition and to allow World Cup qualification through the Asia Cup.

• Format: The tournament usually follows a structure that includes group stages followed by classification matches and knockout rounds. The matches are played under FIH rules, and the winners are awarded both the continental title and a place in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.

• Participation: The Men’s Asia Cup is open to all national teams that are members of the Asian Hockey Federation. The federation has more than 30 affiliated countries, but only a select number qualify for the final tournament. Prominent countries that have consistently participated include India, Pakistan, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, and China. Nations such as Bangladesh, Oman, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka have also made appearances in different editions. 

Government Initiatives to Promote Hockey in India

• Khelo India Mission: The Khelo India Mission is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It was launched to identify young talent across different sports and provide them with the right training and infrastructure. Grassroots programs provide young hockey players with synthetic turfs, skilled coaching, and match experience to shape their careers.

• Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) was introduced to support athletes with high potential to win medals in major international tournaments. This scheme has been especially helpful in preparing both men’s and women’s national teams for events like the Olympics, the Asian Games, and the Hockey World Cup.

• Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF): This program provides direct financial support to sports bodies. Hockey India receives funds for organizing training camps, conducting tournaments, and supporting the travel of national teams.

• Long-Term Development Programmes (LTDP): Hockey India prepares Long-Term Development Programmes in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India. These programs focus on building fitness, tactical awareness, and mental strength of players. Training camps also include foreign exposure tours where athletes play against top-ranked teams.

• Odisha Government: The Odisha government has emerged as the biggest supporter of Indian hockey in recent years. It signed long-term sponsorship agreements with both men’s and women’s national teams. The Odisha government hosted the Men’s Hockey World Cups in 2018 and 2023, showing strong support for the sport.

• Tamil Nadu Government: In 2025, the Tamil Nadu government partnered with Hockey India to host the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup. This move boosted the sport in the state and provided an opportunity for young players to witness world-class hockey at home.