12th Men’s Asia Cup Hockey 2025 to be hosted by Rajgir, Bihar

The ancient city of Rajgir in Bihar will host the 12th edition of the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey tournament from 29 August to 7 September 2025. It will be the second time that Rajgir will host a prestigious continental-level hockey tournament. The city hosted the 8th Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in November 2024, which was won by India, defeating 2024 Paris Olympic silver medalist China in the final.

Bihar also recently hosted the SepakTakraw World Cup 2025, where India, for the first time won a gold medal at a major Sepaktakraw event.

It is the second time that India is hosting the  Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament,having hosted the 7th edition in Chennai in 2007.

Hockey India signs MoU with Bihar State Sports Authority

The Asian Hockey Federation, the sport's governing body in Asia, had allotted Hockey India the hosting rights of the 12th Men’s Asia Cup Hockey tournament.

Hockey India signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  with the Bihar State Sports Authority on 31st March 2025 to give the hosting rights to Bihar. The tournament will be held in the recently upgraded Rajgir Hockey Stadium.

Importance of Rajgir Tournament 

The Tournament is a qualifying event for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.

The World Cup will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.

The team that wins the 12th Men’s Asia Cup will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Teams for the 12th  Men’s Asia Cup

Since the 9th edition 2013 ,eight teams participate in the tournament.

India, being the host country, automatically qualified for the Asia Cup along with the previous champion, South Korea, and the losing finalist, Malaysia. Japan, China, and Pakistan have also booked their place. 

The top two teams of the qualifying AHF Cup to be hosted by Jakarta, Indonesia, will secure their place for the 12th Men’s Asia Cup 2025.

About Men’s Asia Cup 

The Men’s Asia Cup is organised by the Asian Hockey Federation and is hosted by a member Hockey Federation.

The tournament is also a qualifying tournament for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.

South Korea is the most successful team in the tournament, having won it five times.

India has won the title three times -2003, 2007, and in 2017.
 

About the Asian Hockey Federation 

Established in 1958 

It is the sports governing body in Asia and affiliated with the world governing body of Hockey FIH.

Founder members -India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Pakistan.

Members: 31 Countries  

Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

President: Dato Fumio Ogura (Japan)

Hockey India 

Established in 2009 and it replaced the Indian Hockey Federation.

It is the sports governing body in the country. 

President of Hockey India: Dileep Tirkey

Headquarters: New Delhi 

Also Read 

India wins a historic gold in the Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025 in Patna 

India beat China to lift their 3rd Women’s Asian Champions Trophy