After a second successive Olympic bronze medal in Paris this August, a confident Indian men's hockey team will set its preparations for the 2026 World Cup in motion with the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Moqi, China, as the defending champions.
The tournament is all set to commence on Sunday at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China. The venue, which provides a breathtaking view of the Nierji Dam, will host the tournament featuring six teams vying for the title.
India, who won the last edition of the ACT at home in Chennai, are once again the favourites to secure the trophy. The Indian team, led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, is determined to maintain their supremacy in the continental championships and add another trophy to their impressive collection of four title victories in the tournament's history.
The host nation China, along with Japan, Pakistan, Korea and Malaysia, have also arrived at the picturesque location with high hopes of making a strong impact.
"The Asian Champions Trophy last year gave us the right momentum going into the Asian Games and followed it up with the Olympic Games triumph of standing on the podium yet again," said Indian skipper, Harmanpreet. "This time too, we want to begin the fresh Olympic cycle by winning this tournament."
The Indian squad comprises ten players from the bronze-medal winning squad at the Paris Games, which is a clear indication that India doesn't want to lose its grip on the ACT trophy.
"While we have ten members from the Olympic side playing in this tournament, we have a few youngsters trying to make their impact in the team," the skipper added. "From the game's point-of-view, attacking and penalty corners are our forte but we will be looking to play a structured defence, particularly against teams like Japan, Malaysia and Pakistan."
The tournament also offers world rankings points. India are currently fifth in the FIH world rankings.
India will open their campaign against hosts China on Sunday.
They will next take on Japan on September 9, which will be followed by a rest day. Then they will take last edition's runners up on September 11 and South Korea on September 12.
After another rest day, India will face archrivals Pakistan on September 14. However, the rivalry is not the same anymore over the last 8-10 years with Pakistan's nosedive in world hockey.
Top four teams after a round-robin league, where each team plays the other once, will qualify for the semifinals that will be played on September 16.
The final is scheduled for September 17.
"This tournament is one of the most exciting ones in the Asian Hockey calendar. We will also get to see the progress the Asian teams are making in the new cycle as they will play with a fresh group of players keeping in mind the Asian Games in 2026," said midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad, who is the team's vice-captain in the absence of rested Hardik Singh.
Before the Asian Games in 2026 will be the World Cup in Belgium and Netherlands. It is one tournament where India have not reached the semifinals since 1975, when the team lifted its maiden and still the only World Cup title under the leadership of Ajit Pal Singh.
"We arrived here earlier this week and had a good time on the pitch. The weather is suitable for us, but it gets a bit cold in the evening," said Prasad. "The facility is incredible and perhaps one of the most beautiful hockey venues in the world."
