Report: Pakistan, China confirm participation in Hockey Asian Champions Trophy

Chennai will host an international tournament of field hockey after a gap of 16 years.

The Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament will be held in India for the first time from August 3 to 12. The seventh edition of the prestigious sporting event will serve as a warm-up for the Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou, China, in September. 

Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin made the announcement, saying it was great that top-flight hockey was returning to the city that was once South India’s hockey capital.

The last time Chennai hosted an international hockey event was in 2007, when the Asia Cup was held, and the venue, Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, proved to be lucky for the home team, which won the championship by defeating Korea 7-2 in the final.

Top six teams confirm participation in Asian Champions Trophy

Pakistan and China have confirmed their participation in the 7th Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament which means that the top 6 Asian Teams will be seen in action, host India defending champions, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and the others, which will be held at SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai from August 3 to 12.

Confirming the news, J. Sekar Manoharan, president of the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu (HUTN) gave his views on the news, “Since there were doubts expressed by the media on the two teams (China and Pakistan) participation in the Asian Champions Trophy, we are happy to inform that they have sent their confirmation.”

Manoharan went on to say that HUTN has practically decided on a location for the practice turf. It will be a tennis court near the SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium entrance. If a city is to hold a large international event, it must have a practice turf. “The four tennis courts inside the Stadium were underutilised, and we are delighted to convert them to practice turf.” “We hope to begin work in May,” he stated.

However, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) officials said that nothing is confirmed as of now, but HI has taken the measurement.

Meanwhile, representatives from SDAT, HUTN and HI are visiting Rourkela and Bhubaneswar, which have hosted a number of Hockey World Cups, to gain a better understanding of what it takes to organise an international tournament like the Asian Champions Trophy.