New Delhi: India will open their title defence against minnows Hong Kong China on August 22 in the men’s hockey competition of the Asian Games to be held in Indonesia.
India have been clubbed in Pool A in the men’s competition alongside Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong China, while Pool B consists of Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Thailand and hosts Indonesia.
After Hong Kong China, India will next play Japan on August 24 followed by matches against Korea (August 26) and Sri Lanka (August 28).
The women’s team, meanwhile, has been placed in Pool B alongside title holders Korea, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Pool A features China, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong China and Chinese Taipei.
The women’s team will open their campaign against hosts Indonesia on August 19, followed by games against Kazakhstan (August 21), Korea (August 25) and Thailand (August 27).The 18th edition of the Asian Games will see the highest ever number of participating teams — 21 — in the history of hockey competitions at the continental event.
