The 12th Men’s Asia Hockey Cup 2025 will begin today at Rajgir in Bihar on National Sports Day, marking the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will formally inaugurate the Championship this afternoon. The tournament will feature eight top Asian nations – India, Japan, China, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Korea, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei.

The event assumes significance as it serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup. A total of 24 matches will be played till the final match to be played on September 7, 2025. Indian team captain Harmanpreet Singh has expressed confidence that his team will qualify for the World Cup. He added that the entire team will enter the field with unity and a winning strategy. The Indian captain further added that the team will make every effort to convert opportunities into goals during the match.