Overview

• The 12th Men's Asia Cup opens with India vs China at 3 pm IST at Rajgir's Bihar University Hockey Stadium, as India hosts the men's event for the first time since 2007.
• The tournament winner secures a direct berth to the 2026 Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Fans in India can watch via the SonyLiv app and website, with television coverage on the Sony Sports Network.
• Head coach Craig Fulton has called this the most important tournament of the year after a Pro League run that included a record seven straight defeats.
• India have beaten China in 18 of their last 24 meetings, shaping expectations for the Pool A opener.