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Indian men’s hockey team will leave for Kakamigahara, Japan to take part in the third edition of the Asian Champions Trophy tourney on October 29.
The national hockey selectors headed by Olympian BP Govinda are expected to announce a 18-member squad over the weekend.
The national probables are currently going through the paces at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi for the prestigious continental event slated to be held from November 2-10, with some of them being even granted permission by Hockey India to play in the ongoing 48th Mumbai Gold Cup tournament.
The tournament is being organised by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and will feature teams like defending champions Pakistan, India, China, Malaysia and Oman.
India will be on a high after putting up a spirited performance in the ninth Asia Cup in Ipoh under caretaker coach Roelant Oltmans.
The Blueshirts kept their 2014 World Cup qualifying hopes alive by finishing runners-up – it is worth mentioning that India can make the cut if Australia or New Zealand win the Oceania Cup later this month – which looks a distinct possibility given the fact that the other teams in the fray are feeble.
The inaugural men’s Asian Champions Trophy was held in Ordos, China in September 2011, where India piped arch-rivals Pakistan 4-2 in the penalty shootout in a cracker of a final.
Goalkeeepr PR Sreejesh emerged as the hero of the final, pulling off two crucial saves, which tipped the scales in India’s favour.
Pakistan exacted sweet revenge in the second edition held in Doha in December 2012, edging out India 5-4 in a high-voltage, controversial final match in Doha.
This time around, India will be one of the strong contenders alongside Pakistan and Malaysia. Even the likes of Japan and China are rapidly improving sides and cannot be taken lightly.
Korea, who skipped the first two editions, are once again giving the event a miss.
A third consecutive India-Pakistan final cannot be ruled out given the fierce rivalry they bring to the hockey pitch every time they square up.
