The city of Chennai will witness the kicking off Asian Champions Trophy 2023 from August 3 in a bid to encourage the sport of hockey in various parts of the country. The seventh edition of the prestigious competition, which will be place from August 3 to August 12, 2023, as a forerunner to the Hangzhou Asian Games in September this year, where teams will compete for gold and qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Last international hockey tournament held at Chennai in 2007 which proved lucky for team India as the team took home the prestigious Asia Cup by beating Korea 7-2 in a thrilling match. What stood out for Indian men’s team was that they won the inaugural edition in 2011 and defeated Pakistan in the final to claim the title in 2016. After rain disrupted the final in Muscat, India and Pakistan were declared joint victors in the next tournament in 2018.
In a statement welcoming the teams participating in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023, Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Tamil Nadu said “It is indeed a great pleasure and honor to host the Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu which was once the capital of hockey in South India with many reputed domestic and international events being held here. I am very delighted to see the sport being revived in the state with many youngsters coming up the ranks including recent sensation in the Indian team S Karthi who is from Tamil Nadu. I believe hosting the Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 here will further revive the sport in the region and watching top teams in Asia will also inspire the younger generation to take up hockey as a career. The Tamil Nadu government under the leadership of Chief Minister MK Stalin extends all the support required to make this event a grand success.” as per the press release from Hockey India.
President of Hockey India, Dr Dilip Tirkey expressed his gratitude to Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin, and thanked Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) for the opportunity to host distinguished sports tournament in Chennai. Dr Dilip Tirkey said “On behalf of Hockey India, I thank Udhayanidhi Stalin, Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development for his support in hosting this prestigious tournament in Chennai. I had the honor of interacting with him during the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar-Rourkela and it was very encouraging to see his enthusiasm and passion for hockey. I also thank AHF for this opportunity. It has been a while since we had all the top teams in Asia come to India and participate here. I have very fond memories of playing in Chennai and we hope they will all turn up in large numbers to support the participating teams.”
Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General of Hockey India, stated “Hockey India officials have already visited the venue in Chennai and have taken note of the ongoing preparations for the Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023. Tamil Nadu in the past decade has hosted many important Hockey India National Championships across various age groups and we were keen on taking international hockey matches to other states in the country. I am sure with the support of all the stakeholders, we will have a successful and memorable event.”
Dr. Atulya Misra, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Government of Tamil Nadu, J. Meghanatha Reddy, IAS, Chief Executive Officer / Member Secretary, SDAT & Ex-Officio Director, Youth Affair Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, and Sekar J Manoharan, Treasurer of Hockey India and President Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, were also present during the announcement of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 in Chennai and will be co-coordinating with the Hockey India for the conduct of the tournament.
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