India is set to begin its Hockey Asia Cup 2025 journey on August 29, with a match against China, following the release of the tournament fixtures by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). The Rajgir Hockey Stadium will host all the games of the tournament, which is a crucial qualifier for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. The winner will earn a direct entry to the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
The tournament will proceed without Pakistan and Oman, who have both withdrawn due to what they cited as "security reasons." Bangladesh and Kazakhstan will be taking their places.
Indian hockey officials have responded to Pakistan's withdrawal, dismissing their security claims. Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, “Pakistan is not coming to this tournament due to security reasons. India never refused them; they are refusing to come all by themselves due to security reasons.” Similarly, Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh stated, "Why isn't Pakistan coming? Why are they not participating? This is not clear to us," adding that "security and all the arrangements in India are much better than in Pakistan.”
The tournament will feature eight teams divided into two pools. India, placed in Pool A, will face China, Japan, and Kazakhstan. Pool B consists of Korea, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 4 stage, a round-robin format that will decide the two finalists. The final is scheduled for September 7.