Indian Hockey Teams Set to Compete for Gold at Asian Games 2023

The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams are gearing up for the Asian Games in Kakamigahara, where they will seek to secure gold medals and direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The men's team aims to recover from a disappointing eighth-place finish at the recent FIH World Cup held in the Netherlands and Belgium. As four-time Asian Games champions, the team is placed in Pool A alongside hosts Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Their first match is scheduled against Indonesia, where they are anticipated to come out on top.

Ranked eighth in the world, the Indian men's team enters the tournament as significant favourites but must address the weaknesses that plagued their World Cup efforts. Historically, they have dominated competition against Pakistan, Japan, and Malaysia; India has not lost to Pakistan since 2016, winning 14 of their last 16 encounters. Chief coach Craig Fulton has emphasised the importance of translating lessons learned from the World Cup into action.

'These (World Cup outings) are lessons, and the only way to treat them as lessons learned is to turn that learning into action. We've discussed everything and highlighted areas needing improvement. It’s now about action,' Fulton stated.

This tournament holds particular significance for senior players such as captain Harmanpreet Singh, veteran Manpreet Singh, and striker Mandeep Singh, as it is likely to be their last opportunity to compete at the Asian Games.

Meanwhile, the Indian women's hockey team is riding high after a historic fifth-place finish at the World Cup, their best result in 52 years. Under the guidance of chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, the women have shown exceptional development. They are placed in Pool B, facing Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and Singapore, starting their campaign against Uzbekistan, a match they are favoured to win.

However, the biggest challenge lies in competing against China, ranked fourth in the world and favoured to win the competition. During the World Cup, India managed to hold China to a 2-2 draw, showcasing their potential against higher-ranked opponents. Following the Uzbekistan match, the Indian women will take on Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and Singapore.

Captain Salima Tete will lead the women’s team, aiming to improve upon their bronze medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. The last time they won gold at the Asian Games was in 1982. Coach Marijne has urged players to acknowledge their World Cup success while swiftly refocusing on the challenges ahead.

'We did something remarkable, but we have to move on to the next tournament. You have to close a chapter before you move to the next one,' he advised.

Both teams face critical matches ahead, with aspirations to lift the gold medal and secure their positions for future international competitions.

The men's matches include fixtures against Sri Lanka, South Korea, Japan, and Bangladesh. The women's schedule follows similar momentum, culminating in key games that will define their journey in the tournament.