India will host the men’s Asian Champions Trophy Hockey for the first time from August 3 to 12 in Chennai.
Chennai, Apr 17 (PTI) With the international tournament returning to Chennai after 16 years, India will host the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament for the first time from August 3 to 12 in Chennai.

The seventh edition of the prestigious continental event, launched in 2011, will serve as a precursor to the Asian Games hockey tournament in Hangzhou, China in September.

Asian hockey powerhouses and three-time champions Pakistan and China are yet to feature in the tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.
Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udayanidhi Stalin said that holding this tournament in the southern metropolis will help in the revival of sports in the region.

“It is a great pleasure and honor to host the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2023 in Chennai, once the hockey capital of South India,” the minister said here on Monday.

“I believe that hosting the Hero Asian Champions Trophy here will further revitalize the sport in the region and seeing the best teams in Asia will inspire the younger generation to take up hockey as a career.” Chennai won the final of the Asia Cup Hockey Tournament held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in 2007, defeating Korea 7-2.

Organizers said Pakistan and China will confirm their participation by April 25. “Adequate security will be provided if the Pakistan team participates in the event,” they said. Defending champions South Korea, Malaysia and Japan will participate in the Asian Hockey Federation tournament.

India has also won the tournament three times (jointly with Pakistan in 2011, 2016 and 2018) while South Korea won the title in the last edition in Dhaka in 2021.

Hockey India general secretary Polanath Singh said the national federation officials have already visited the ground in Chennai and are taking note of the current arrangements for the tournament.

“In recent years, Odisha has been the hub of major international hockey tournaments, but we are interested in taking international tournaments to other states in the country,” he said.

“Tamil Nadu has hosted several important Hockey India National Championships in various age groups over the past decade. With the support of all stakeholders, I am confident that we will have a successful and memorable event. He said Hockey India officials have already visited the match venue and taken care of the arrangements. PTI JSP/SS PDS PDS PDS