Hockey India Plans Separate Teams for Upcoming Asian Games and World Cup

Strategic Team Selection for Major Tournaments

In light of the upcoming Asian Games and World Cup, which are scheduled to occur within a three-week timeframe, Hockey India is contemplating the formation of distinct teams for each event. The Asian Games are particularly crucial as they provide a direct route to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The World Cup will take place in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30, while the Asian Games, serving as an Olympic qualifier, will be hosted in Japan from September 19 to October 4. Notably, there is only a 20-day interval between these two significant tournaments.

A source from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports indicated, "We need to field two separate teams for the World Cup and the Asian Games, prioritizing the Asian Games for Olympic qualification, which means our A team should participate there."

The FIH Hockey World Cup will feature two tournaments, one for men and another for women, both co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands during the same dates.

Each tournament will consist of 16 teams divided into four pools of four. Teams will compete against each other once in the group stage.

In a highly anticipated matchup, traditional rivals India and Pakistan will face off in the same pool for the Men's Hockey World Cup, with their match scheduled for August 19.

The Asian Games in Japan will run from September 19 to October 4, with some events commencing nine days prior to the official opening ceremony, as per the schedule from the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC).

India aims to exceed its previous record of 106 medals from the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022, with meticulous planning and collaboration among all stakeholders for the 2026 Asian Games. More than 700 Indian athletes are expected to compete in over 40 sports disciplines at the upcoming games.