Hockey India announces free tickets for Men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir

Rajgir, Hockey India on Tuesday announced that entry for all matches of the Men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar will be free of cost. The tournament, scheduled to be played from August 29 to September 7 at the newly built Rajgir Hockey Stadium, promises to be a grand celebration of hockey in the heart of Bihar.

The Men’s Asia Cup 2025 will feature eight top Asian nations - India, Japan, China, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Korea, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei. The event also serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, adding extra intensity and significance to every game.

Hosts India have been placed in Pool A alongside Japan, China, and Kazakhstan. They will kick off their campaign against China on August 29, followed by a clash with Japan on August 31, and their final pool match against Kazakhstan on September 1.

Fans can register for their free tickets by visiting www.ticketgenie.in or Hockey India app, where they will receive a virtual ticket upon completion of the process. This system has been designed to provide a seamless and hassle-free experience, eliminating the need for physical redemption and ensuring smooth access to the venue.

Speaking on the announcement, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said, “Hosting the Men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir is a historic moment for Indian hockey, and we want every fan to be part of this journey. By keeping entry free, our aim is to make the sport more accessible and to encourage families, students, and young athletes to come and witness world-class hockey. This is not just a tournament, it is a celebration of the game, and the people of Bihar and beyond deserve to be at the heart of it.”

Echoing the sentiment, Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh added, "We are delighted to offer free access to all matches of the Men’s Asia Cup. Rajgir has shown tremendous enthusiasm for hockey, and we are confident that fans will turn up in huge numbers to support their teams.

"This initiative is in line with our commitment to building a hockey culture across every corner of India and ensuring that the atmosphere at the stadium is electric throughout the tournament."

The 12th edition of the Men’s Asia Cup, organized by the Asian Hockey Federation, marks a significant milestone as it returns to its regular four-year cycle after the previous edition was delayed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament will be held at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility that previously hosted the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in November 2024, where India emerged victorious. This will be the second major international hockey event hosted by Rajgir, underscoring Bihar's growing stature as a sporting hub in India.

The Indian men’s hockey team, led by veteran drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, is poised to compete for both continental supremacy and a direct berth in the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands. The 18-member squad, announced on August 20, 2025, features a balanced mix of experienced players across all positions, including goalkeepers Krishan B Pathak and Suraj Karkera, defenders like Amit Rohidas and Jugraj Singh, midfielders such as Manpreet Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad, and forwards including Mandeep Singh and Sukhjeet Singh.

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Speaking on the team selection, Indian men’s team coach Craig Fulton emphasized the squad’s readiness for high-pressure situations: “We’ve gone with an experienced squad that understands what it takes to perform in high-pressure situations. The Asia Cup is crucial for us because qualification for the World Cup is at stake, so we needed players who have the composure, resilience, and know-how to deliver. I’m very pleased with the balance and quality across the squad. We have leaders in every line — defence, midfield, and attack — and that collective strength is what excites me the most.”

The tournament’s format includes two pools of four teams each, with India in Pool A and Malaysia, Korea, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei in Pool B. After a single round-robin in the pool stage, the top two teams from each pool advance to the Super 4s. The leading pair from the Super 4s will contest the final on September 7, while the remaining two will play for third place on the same day. The winner of the tournament secures a direct spot in the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, while teams finishing second to sixth will proceed to additional World Cup qualifiers.

South Korea, the defending champions, are the most successful team in the tournament’s history with five titles, followed by India and Pakistan, each with three titles. Notably, Pakistan withdrew from the 2025 edition citing security concerns and financial constraints, with Bangladesh stepping in as their replacement. Oman also pulled out due to financial issues, and Kazakhstan was named as their substitute.

The significance of the event was further highlighted by the unveiling of the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 trophy by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, on August 25, 2025, in Delhi. The ceremony, attended by hockey legends such as Harbinder Singh, Ashok Dhyanchand, and Zafar Iqbal, marked the countdown to the tournament and underscored its importance as a historic moment for Bihar, hosting its first major international hockey tournament.

Indian fans can watch the matches live on the Sony Sports Network and the SonyLiv app, while international viewers in the USA, UK, Netherlands, Europe, and North America can catch the action on Watch.Hockey. The free entry initiative, combined with the tournament’s high stakes and Bihar’s growing hockey enthusiasm, is expected to draw large crowds, creating an electrifying atmosphere at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium.

(IANS/NS)

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