India eyes 4th title as stage set for Asian Champions Trophy Hockey

Chennai: India will be banking on home advantage and its recent good showing as they eye for a fourth title in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Trophy championship beginning at the refurbished Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium here on Thursday.

Big time hockey returns to the city, which had produced several Olympians like V.Baskaran and Muneer Sait, after a gap of 16 years, thanks to the efforts made by Chief Minister M.K.Stalin and Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Apart from India, champions Korea, Pakistan, China, Malaysia and Japan are in the fray.

With the same teams like to play in the Hangzhou Asian Games in China next month, the Champion Trophy serves as a platform to fine tune their skills, analyse their strengths and weakness, address shortcomings if any.

The event could also be seen as an ideal preparatory event for the Asian Games to secure an Olympic berth.

While defending Champions Korea will be the team to watch out for, the reigning Olympic Bronze medal-winning Indian Men's team will begin as favourites for the title.

Riding on their recent outing in Spain, India led by one of the most successful dragflickers in world hockey Harmanpreet Singh will look to begin their campaign on a strong note, when they begin their campaign with another Asian powerhouse China tomorrow.

"In tournaments like these, no team can be taken lightly. We are looking forward to these matches and seeing where we stand when we play Asian teams. Of course, we want to win every match and perform well here ahead of the Asian Games", he said, while stressing that this tournament is a preparatory test before the real challenge for an Olympic berth in Hangzhou Asian Games. (UNI)