Overview

• Japan touched down in Bihar and entered Pool A with India, China and Kazakhstan, opening against Kazakhstan on August 29 before facing India on August 31 and China on September 1.
• Malaysia became the first team on site in Rajgir–Patna, drawing Pool B with defending champions Korea, Bangladesh and Chinese Taipei, and will start against Bangladesh on August 29.
• The winner of the Hero Asia Cup 2025 qualifies for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Malaysia’s captain Marhan Jalil targeted a Super 4s berth and a podium push, while coach Sarjit Kundan framed the campaign within longer-term plans toward the 2028 Olympics and next year’s Asian Games.
• One report says Malaysia will be without assistant coach and Pakistan great Sohail Abbas due to personal reasons.