&w=3840&q=100)
India hockey to prioritise 2026 Asian Games over World Cup; here's why
According to a report in The Times of India, Hockey India is expected to take this call as there will be just 20 days between the conclusion of the World Cup and the start of the Asiad — a key qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The report states that deploying top players at both events would be logistically and physically impractical.
Women's team may feature in both events
In contrast, the women's team is expected to participate in both the Asian Games and the World Cup — subject to qualification for the latter.
Japan's Aichi-Nagoya will host the 2026 Asian Games from September 19, while the FIH Hockey World Cup is scheduled to conclude on August 30. Winners in both the men's and women's events at the Asian Games earn an automatic berth for the Olympics.
India's men's team clinched gold by defeating Japan at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, securing direct qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Hangzhou Games were postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Women's team missed Olympic berth in 2023
The women's team finished with a bronze in Hangzhou, missing out on an Olympic spot.
Qualification challenge for the FIH World Cup
The 2026 FIH World Cup, featuring both men's and women's competitions, will be held from August 15 to 30 in Wavre (Belgium) and Amstelveen (Netherlands). Neither Indian team has qualified yet, having underperformed in the recent European leg of the FIH Pro League.
Men's ranking favourable; women face a tougher road
While the men's team's global ranking suggests qualification is unlikely to be a problem, the women face a more challenging route. Their World Cup entry will depend on performances in upcoming qualifiers and continental championships.
Centre to invest heavily in Asiad build-up
The government is planning to spend between ₹600 crore and ₹800 crore on preparations for the Asian Games, aiming to boost India's medal tally across disciplines at the continental multi-sport event.
India's performance at Asian Games 2023
India sent a 655-member contingent at the 2023 Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, China.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
25 minutes ago
- The Hindu
ENG vs IND, 4th Test: Indomitable Rishabh Pant brings Old Trafford to its feet
As Rishabh Pant walked out to bat on Thursday, with a fractured foot, he received the loudest of cheers from the fans. The Old Trafford gave a standing ovation as a nonchalant Pant limped his way to the middle, kissing the boundary rope on the way. He was visibly in pain and discomfort, but with India six down, Pant took painkillers and followed all the necessary medical protocols to take the field. Despite moving gingerly, Pant occasionally took a few singles before dealing in boundaries. He eventually brought up his 18th Test fifty, with a boundary through the covers against Ben Stokes, before falling to Jofra Archer for 54. Rishabh Pant hits Archer for six runs during day two of the Fourth Test Match between England and India. | Photo Credit: STU FORSTER His dedication towards the game reminded one of Anil Kumble's heroics when the former India captain bowled with a broken jaw during the second Test match of the 2002 tour of the West Indies, demonstrating immense grit. Pant displayed similar steel on Thursday. There was a bit of a grimace on his face, but with the series on the line and the team needing him the most, Pant once again demonstrated his indomitable spirit. 👏👏👏 Resounding reception for Rishabh Pant from all around the ground as he hobbles out to the middle.#ENGvsIND# — Sportstar (@sportstarweb) July 24, 2025 Since his formative years, Pant talks to himself throughout the innings. This was something his coach, the late Tarak Sinha, taught him. Things were no different this time either. After he completed every run, Pant could be seen muttering something to himself, while Washington Sundar walked up to him at frequent intervals to check whether he was feeling alright. By the time Pant returned to the middle, India had already breached the 300-run mark. But what was important was to extend the tally further, and the Indian keeper-batter knew that if he could hold out longer, it would happen. Despite the pain, his innings was quite Pant-esque as he picked his time to play a few uncanny shots. Even as the pitch offered a fair amount of lateral movement and some inconsistent bounce, Pant remained unperturbed. His 23-run partnership with Washington meant India put up a fairly decent total on the board. Though the BCCI did not mention it, Pant will not feature in the final Test at the Oval next week and won't even do the wicketkeeping duties in the ongoing Test as he has been advised six week's rest by the doctors. In Pant's absence, Dhruv Jurel will take charge of the keeping duties. The team management was keen on calling up Ishan Kishan as a back-up option. However, the selectors were informed that Kishan, who is recovering from an injury, may not be in a position to travel to England at this point. As a result, the selectors have now reached out to N. Jagadeesan, who is likely to join the team ahead of the final Test next week. Pant had hurt his finger in the previous Test at Lord's, which prevented him from keeping wickets, but had batted in both innings. And, as he took the field at Old Trafford, it indeed, spoke volumes about his character.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
25 minutes ago
- Business Standard
ENG vs IND: Rishabh Pant surpasses MS Dhoni for most 50+ scores in England
Rishabh Pant came out to bat with a fractured toe but still managed to complete his half-century in the 4th Test between India and England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Wednesday. This was Pant's ninth 50-plus score in England, making him the wicketkeeper-batter with the most 50+ scores in an away country. He surpasses MS Dhoni, who had eight such scores in England during his career. 27-year-old Pant has now recorded five 50-plus scores in the ongoing Test series against England in 2025, setting a new record for the most 50+ scores by an Indian wicketkeeper in a single Test series. This takes him past legendary names such as Farokh Engineer (4 vs ENG in 1972/73) and MS Dhoni, who had four each against Australia (2008/09) and England (2014). Pant also etched his name in the history books, with 479 runs and counting. As he now holds the record for the most Test runs scored by a wicketkeeper in a single series in England, surpassing Alec Stewart's 464-run tally against South Africa in 1998. What makes Pant's achievement even more extraordinary is the context in which it has come. Battling a fractured toe in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, the 27-year-old has not only shown resilience but also displayed his trademark flair. His runs have been crucial in an injury-hit Indian lineup that is searching for batting consistency amid testing conditions. Pant eclipsed a long-standing record held by Stewart, a hallmark of England's late-90s cricketing era. Interestingly, Jamie Smith, England's own rising wicketkeeper, also features on the list with 415* runs in the same 2025 series—highlighting the high standards set by both glovemen in the ongoing contest. Jonny Bairstow's 387 runs against Sri Lanka in 2016 rounds off the elite list, further underlining Pant's place among modern-day greats in red-ball cricket. 479* - Rishabh Pant vs ENG, 2025 464 - Alec Stewart vs SA, 1998 415* - Jamie Smith vs IND, 2025 387 - Jonny Bairstow vs SL, 2016
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Chopra-Nadeem's face-off in Poland unlikely, says Pakistani javelin thrower's coach
The much-anticipated duel between double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra and reigning champion Arshad Nadeem at the Diamond League in Poland lies in uncertainty after the Pakistani javelin thrower underwent a surgery on his calf muscle in England recently. Chopra and Nadeem were scheduled to face each other for the first time next month, one year after the mouth-watering men's javelin competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the Pakistani came out on top, beating his Indian counterpart for the gold medal with a stunning 92.97m throw. The 27-year-old Chopra, who had won gold in Tokyo Olympics in 2021, had to settle for a silver in Paris with a best throw of 89.45m. The duo were set to compete against each other in the Diamond League in Silesia, Poland on August 16 and then in Switzerland next month. Nadeem's coach Salman Butt, who is with him in England, informed that the reigning Olympic champion is unsure for both the events as he was more focussed on making his comeback at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. 'He (Nadeem) is more focussed on preparing for the World Championships in Tokyo in September which is why he decided to have the surgery on his calf muscle which had been bothering for a while now,' Butt said. 'I don't think they will compete against each other until the World event,' he added. Dr Ali Bajwa performed an interventional procedure on Nadeem's calf muscle at the Spire Hospital in Cambridge. ALSO READ | Appointment of IOA CEO to be ratified by Executive Council, announcement likely on Thursday Nadeem is now undergoing rehabilitation in London and Butt said if the doctor gives clearance, he might compete in one event before the World Championships in Tokyo. 'The World Championships are very important for Arshad (Nadeem) as he finished with a silver behind Neeraj (Chopra) in Budapest in 2023,' the coach said. Nadeem has won gold medals at the Paris Olympics, 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and recently the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea earlier this year.
