Defending Champion India to kick off the Asia Cup Campaign against Arch Rival Pakistan
Indian Men Hockey team has been in great form off late in the FIH Pro Hockey League. They are currently leading the league with some really good wins. India currently has 8 wins out of 12 matches scoring a whopping 54 goals. Harmanpreet Singh is the leading goal scorer with 16 goals on his name.
India is all set to start the defence of the Asia Cup title which they won the third time in Dhaka against Pakistan. In the fixtures released India was placed with Pakistan, Japan & Indonesia. This looks like a tricky group when one looks at the group B which has Malaysia, South Korea, oman & Bangladesh.
At the last Men’s Hockey Asia cup held in Dhaka five years back India had won the title defeating Malaysia in the Final. India were undefeated throghout the torunament and won all matches except one draw against South Korea. In the earlier match India had thrashed Malaysia 6-2 but the Final was a very close affair with India managing to score two goals and Malaysia clawed back with one to keep everyone on the edge.
Source ToI
India had scored an astonishing 28 Goals through the tournament, Harmanpreet Singh back then also was the highest goal scorer with 7 to his name. He was in fact tied with Faizal from Malaysia.
Source HT
South Korea is the most succesful team in this tornament winning it four time to India Three. While India has made the Finals the most losing five and winning three. only three teams have ever won this tournament Pakistan, South Korea & India. Pakistan doing it last way back in 1989.
23rd May India vs Pakistan
24th May Japan vs India
25th May Indonesia vs India
28th, 29th & 31st will have Super4 pools followed by Bronze Medal & Final on 1 June 2022
