According to former hockey greats, India is the overwhelming favorite to win the men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, and earn a spot in the World Cup, which Belgium and the Netherlands will co-host the following year. India, the current No. 1 team in Asia and the reigning Olympic bronze medallists, last won the Asia Cup in Dhaka in 2017 after defeating Malaysia 2-1 in the championship match.
India had to settle for third place after winners South Korea and Malaysia at the last tournament, held in Jakarta in 2022. The captain of India’s World Cup-winning team from 1975, Ajitpal Singh, called the Harmanpreet Singh-led team “undisputed” favorites but warned against complacency.
“We are undisputed favourites and sure-shot champions. There is no comparison with us, but obviously Korea, China, Japan, and Malaysia have given us trouble in the past,” Ajitpal told PTI.
“There is no competition in Asia now with India in hockey. Earlier, there was Pakistan, but they are finished. We should avail this chance and qualify for the World Cup, but the players need to be careful. They have to win to qualify,” he added.
Zafar Iqbal, a former captain and part of India’s Olympic gold-winning squad from 1980, shared Ajitpal’s opinions.
“There is no doubt that India are favourites to win the tournament unless we have a very bad day. We are the No. 1 side in Asia and with Pakistan not there, we should win the title and qualify for the World Cup,” he said at the trophy unveiling ceremony in New Delhi on Monday.
“But having said that, we can’t be overconfident. There are tricky teams like Korea, Japan, China, and Malaysia, who have beaten us in the past,” he added.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the glistening Asia Cup 2025 trophy in the national capital on Monday, kicking off the 12th edition of the competition, which will take place at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar from August 29 to September 7.
Being the first major international hockey tournament to be held in Bihar, the Rajgir edition will be historic and highlight the state’s rising sporting prominence.
