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With their eyes set on the prestigious Hero Asia Cup 2017, the Indian Men’s Hockey team led by midfielder Manpreet Singh is all set to face Japan in the opening match of the tournament on 11th October. The final will take place on 22nd October. India will start the tournament as the highest ranked team and favourites to win the championship. The match which everyone will keep an eye is when India will take on the arch-rivals Pakistan on 15th October.
“We are aware that we go into this tournament as the highest ranked team and we aim to keep up the No.1 status. However, every team will come with the intention to win the title so we can’t take any team lightly thinking they are ranked lower than us,” said the 25-year-old Manpreet to Hockey India’s official website.
India will lock horns against Japan and Bangladesh along with Pakistan in Pool A. The winners of the Asia Cup will win a direct ticket to the World Cup.
South Korea will be defending their crown they won at home in 2013. The Koreans have been clubbed with Malaysia, China and Oman in Pool B. The tournament started in 1982 and Pakistan became the champions of the very first edition of this tournament. At the moment, Pakistan team is going through a turmoil but they are looking to revive their glorious history.
World No. 6 India, Asia Cup champions in 2003 and 2007 will be the top team in Dhaka. Korea, who won the Asia Cup in 1993, 1999, 2009 and 2013, are ranked 13 in the world while Pakistan are at 14. Malaysia are at No. 12 in the latest international hockey federation (FIH) rankings.
The schedule is as follows:
Asia Cup 2017 – Match Schedule
11 to 22 October 2017 - Dhaka, Bangladesh
Pool A Pool B
India Malaysia
Pakistan Korea
Japan China
Bangladesh Oman
11 October:
India v Japan : 3pm, Pool A
Pakistan v Bangladesh: 5.30 pm, Pool A
12 October:
Malaysia v China: 3pm, Pool B
Korea v Oman: 5:30, Pool B
13 October:
Japan v Pakistan: 3 pm, Pool A
India v Bangladesh: 5.30 pm, Pool A
14 October
China v Oman: 3 pm, Pool B
Korea v Malaysia: 5.30 pm, Pool B
15 October
Japan v Bangladesh: 3 pm, Pool A
Pakistan v India: 5.30 pm, Pool A
16 October
Malaysia v Oman: 3 pm, Pool B
China v Korea: 5.30 pm, Pool B
17 October: Rest Day
18 October:
Super 4s TBC v TBC: 3 pm
Super 4s TBC v TBC: 5.30 pm
5-8th place: 3rd Pool A v 4th Pool B: 8.00 pm
19 October:
Super 4s TBC v TBC: 3 pm
Super 4s TBC v TBC: 5.30 pm
5-8th Place: 3rd Pool B v 4th Pool A: 8.00 pm
20 October:
7/8th Place: Loser M15 v Loser M18: 3 pm
5/6th Place: Winner M15 v Winner M18: 5.30 pm
21 October:
Super 4s TBC v TBC: 3 pm
Super 4s TBC v TBC: 5 pm
22 October:
3/4th Place: 3rd Super 4s v 4th Super 4s: 3 pm
Final: 1st Super 4s v 2nd Super 4s: 5.30 pm
Approved by the FIH: 28 July 2017
Note: The sequence of the Super4s matches will be confirmed once pool play has been completed.
