The men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey is in it’s 13th year, and the eighth edition of the tournament will commence on September 8, in Hulunbuir, China. As per the usual format, six best teams in Asia will take part in the ACT 2024 — hosts China, India, South Korea, Japan, Pakistan, and Malaysia. But truth be told already, the Indian men’s hockey team is head and shoulders above any team in the competition.
Harmanpreet Singh & Co. are the best-ranked team in the tournament, while the next best team on the roster is Malaysia — at no. 13. China is the lowest-placed at 23. Now, look at the disparity between all the sides — on one hand, India is on the back of two Olympic bronze medals in 2020 & 2024, while the others didn’t even qualify for the Olympics this year. Yes, Japan was around in 2020, but that doesn’t say much.
The absence of other Asian teams from Paris Olympics only shows, how much India has grown its stature in hockey over the years, and how much the likes of Pakistan..South Korea, have dwindled. Yes, on odd bad day for Team India, they might be beaten, but none of the sides in Asia can claim to threaten them regularly.
India’s Superior Record Against All Teams
Let’s see team-by-team, and how they have struggled to perform against India. For starters, Japan had last beaten India in 2022 in the Asia Cup, and in the last five matches, India has a win rate of 100%. Once again, in the case of India vs Pakistan, the latter overall have a better record, but haven’t beaten arch-rivals in years. In fact, in their last meeting at the Asian Games, IND beat PAK 10-2. Back in 2022 Asia Cup, Pakistan salvaged a draw 1-1.
Talking about Malaysia, they too haven’t beaten us in the last five meetings. The closest they could manage was a draw in the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018. South Korea had beaten India in 2019, at an international friendly, that too in penalty shootout. China has a poor record too.
Should India Play Asian Champions Trophy At All?
Well, the answer could be a yes, and a no. Yes, if the Indian selectors and Hockey India mutually agree to field junior players in the tournament. That way we could test our bench. And no, if we should continue playing our best in the ACT. That just doesn’t solve the purpose. Maybe, ACT should also look to include Australia and New Zealand too, in the tournament, which would be really competitive. But for now, it will be a mere formality that begins on Sunday, that will see India become the champions for the fifth time.
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India Squad for Asian Champions Trophy: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Suraj Karkera, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad (VC), Manpreet Singh, Mohd. Raheel Mouseen, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh.
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