Hockey Asia Cup 2025: Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh arrive to complete eight-team lineup

The Chinese Taipei and Bangladesh men’s hockey teams landed here on Wednesday, completing the eight-team lineup for the upcoming Hero Asia Cup with the players exuding confidence of competitive performances in the continental showpiece event.

The event is set to commence on Friday with three-time winner India and defending champion South Korea likely favourites to lift the title. Pakistan and Oman have pulled out of the tournament and have been replaced by Bangladesh and Kazakhstan.

Chinese Taipei, ranked 38th in the world, will be playing in the tournament only for the second time after making its debut in 2013.

Chinese Taipei has been drawn in Pool B alongside Korea, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. It will open its campaign against Korea on Friday, followed by matches against Bangladesh on Saturday and Malaysia on September 1.

“Playing in India, where hockey is followed so passionately, is a wonderful experience for all of us. Our focus will be to enjoy every match we play in this prestigious tournament while giving our absolute best on the field,” said Chinese Taipei captain Chun-Yu Chang.

During the 2013 Asia Cup, Chinese Taipei had lost all its pool matches to finish last in the group.

“It is a matter of great pride to represent our country, especially as this is only our second appearance in the history of the Asia Cup. We want to make the most of this opportunity, learn from the challenges, and showcase the fighting spirit of our team,” he added.

Bangladesh, ranked 29th in the world, is among the most regular sides in the competition’s history, having featured in every edition of the Asia Cup since its inception in 1982.

Published on Aug 27, 2025