The Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023, a highly anticipated hockey event, is set to begin on Thursday, with thousands of hockey fans eagerly waiting to witness the exciting moments during the 10-day extravaganza at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Egmore. This stadium last hosted an international match in 2007, making the event even more special.
The defending Champions Korea will be a team to watch out for, but the Indian Men’s Hockey team, which recently won the Olympic Bronze medal, will begin as favorites for the title. Led by the successful drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh, India aims to start their campaign on a strong note. The team’s recent outing in Spain must have boosted their confidence.
“In tournaments like these, no team can be taken lightly. We are looking forward to these matches and seeing where we stand when we play Asian teams. Of course, we want to win every match and perform well here ahead of the Asian Games.” India Captain Highlights Asian Champions Trophy 2023 as Crucial Olympic Preparatory Test for Hangzhou Asian Games.
Adding to the Captain’s views, Chief Coach Craig Fulton stated, “It is great that we are getting to play these matches ahead of the Asian Games. It gives us the ideal platform to study the other teams and also see how players excel in the roles they have been assigned to execute. We had some very good matches in Spain and a good training block before that in Bengaluru. I am excited and looking forward to the matches here.”
India’s schedule includes matches against Japan on Friday, August 4, and Malaysia on Sunday, August 6. They will face Korea on Monday, August 7, followed by a day’s rest before their highlight-anticipated match against nemesis Pakistan on Wednesday, August 9. After these matches, they will proceed to the knockout stage.
“Understandably, there is a lot of excitement around the India-Pakistan matches, be it in cricket or in hockey. Naturally, there will be emotions running high when we play against Pakistan. But, for us, it’s just another game and we will go into the match with just one focus to win the game,” revealed Harmanpreet.
“Chennai has been a special venue for the Indian team. In 2007, the team won the Asia Cup. We are eager to play in front of the spectators here and look forward to high-octane matches,” Harmanpreet signed off.
The opening match of the tournament, on Thursday, August 3, 2023, will see India facing off against China at 20:30 hours IST.
For those unable to attend the matches in person, the Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 will be broadcast live on Star Sports and Fancode. It will also be available for live streaming on watch.hockey for viewers outside of India.
With the enthusiasm and anticipation among fans, this hockey championship promises to be a thrilling event showcasing top-notch hockey talent from Asia.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
