New Delhi, Aug 25 (HS): Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday unveiled the trophy for the 12th edition of the Hockey Asia Cup 2025 in the capital, marking the formal countdown to the continental event. The prestigious tournament will be staged from August 29 to September 7 at the newly built Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar.
The Rajgir edition will be historic, as Bihar will host an international hockey tournament of this scale for the first time, underscoring the state’s growing prominence in Indian sports.
The unveiling ceremony was graced by hockey legends, including triple Olympic medallist Harbinder Singh, 1972 Munich Olympic bronze medallist Ashok Dhyan Chand, and 1980 Moscow Olympic gold winner Zafar Iqbal, along with senior officials of the Bihar government and Hockey India.
This year’s Asia Cup also serves as a direct qualifier for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium. The champions will secure an automatic berth, while the teams finishing second to sixth will advance to next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
