Indian hockey crew should not be enjoying in Asian Champions Trophy

The lads’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey is in it’s thirteenth yr, and the eighth version of the match will start on September 8, in Hulunbuir, China. As per the same old format, six greatest groups in Asia will participate within the ACT 2024 — hosts China, India, South Korea, Japan, Pakistan, and Malaysia. However reality be informed already, the Indian males’s hockey crew is head and shoulders above any crew within the competitors.

Harmanpreet Singh & Co. are the best-ranked crew within the match, whereas the following greatest crew on the roster is Malaysia — at no. 13. China is the lowest-placed at 23. Now, take a look at the disparity between all the edges — on one hand, India is on the again of two Olympic bronze medals in 2020 & 2024, whereas the others didn’t even qualify for the Olympics this yr. Sure, Japan was round in 2020, however that doesn’t say a lot.

The absence of different Asian groups from Paris Olympics solely reveals, how a lot India has grown its stature in hockey over time, and the way a lot the likes of Pakistan..South Korea, have dwindled. Sure, on odd dangerous day for Group India, they could be crushed, however not one of the sides in Asia can declare to threaten them commonly.

India’s Superior Document In opposition to All Groups

Let’s see team-by-team, and the way they’ve struggled to carry out towards India. For starters, Japan had final crushed India in 2022 within the Asia Cup, and within the final 5 matches, India has a win charge of 100%. As soon as once more, within the case of India vs Pakistan, the latter general have a greater document, however haven’t crushed arch-rivals in years. The truth is, of their final assembly on the Asian Video games, IND beat PAK 10-2. Again in 2022 Asia Cup, Pakistan salvaged a draw 1-1.

Speaking about Malaysia, they too haven’t crushed us within the final 5 conferences. The closest they may handle was a draw within the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018. South Korea had crushed India in 2019, at a world pleasant, that too in penalty shootout. China has a poor document too.

Ought to India Play Asian Champions Trophy At All?

Effectively, the reply might be a sure, and a no. Sure, if the Indian selectors and Hockey India mutually conform to subject junior gamers within the match. That approach we might take a look at our bench. And no, if we must always proceed enjoying our greatest within the ACT. That simply doesn’t clear up the aim. Possibly, ACT must also look to incorporate Australia and New Zealand too, within the match, which might be actually aggressive. However for now, it will likely be a mere formality that begins on Sunday, that can see India develop into the champions for the fifth time.

India Squad for Asian Champions Trophy: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Suraj Karkera, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad (VC), Manpreet Singh, Mohd. Raheel Mouseen, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh.