India's women's hockey team will start its bid for a third straight Asian Champions Trophy title against Malaysia on November 19 in Bhopal, Hockey India announced on Wednesday (November 4).
The six-nation tournament will be played at Bhopal's new hockey stadium at the International Sports Complex in Nathu Barkheda. It will be the team's first international assignment since winning gold at the Asian Games in Japan last month, Sportstar reported.
India's schedule
- November 19: India vs Malaysia (after the opening ceremony)
- November 21: India vs South Korea
- November 22: India vs Thailand
- November 24: India vs China
- November 25: India vs Japan
The tournament opens on November 19 with Asia's top-ranked team, China, against Thailand. November 20, 23 and 26 are rest days.
Format
Each team plays the other five once, and the top four after the league stage go through. The semi-finals and the fifth-place match are on November 27, and the bronze-medal match and final on November 28.
Why it matters
India have won the title three times, in 2016, 2023 and 2024, and come in as defending champions. The tournament gives Sjoerd Marijne's side a chance to build on the Asian Games win on home ground.
"I look forward to seeing our Indian team build on its recent Asian Games success and defend its title," Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said.