Asian Champions Trophy 2024: Know all about India's Rival China ahead of opening clash Today

Add as a preferred source on Google

India will kick off their Asian Champions Trophy 2024 campaign on September 8, facing hosts China at the Moqi training base in Hulunbuir City, Mongolia. As the reigning champions, India, led by Harmanpreet Singh, are keen to start strong.

On the other hand, China will be hoping to make the most of their home advantage and challenge the defending champions. China's men's hockey team has had a fluctuating presence on the international stage over the years, showing moments of promise alongside periods of rebuilding.

Their most notable achievement came at the 2006 Asian Games, where they claimed a silver medal, marking one of their finest performances in major Asian competitions. In addition to that, they have twice secured a bronze medal in the Asia Cup-first in 1982 in Karachi and later in 2009 in Kuantan. China also made their Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games, finishing 11th, which remains their only Olympic appearance to date.

In terms of world rankings, China reached their peak in 2009, when they were ranked 10th globally. However, since then, their standing has fluctuated, and they currently sit at 23rd as of August 2024. The Chinese team also participated in the FIH World Cup for the first time in 2018, finishing in 10th place.

The Chinese men's hockey team has had a varied history in the Asian Champions Trophy. Since their debut in the tournament, they have been competitive but have not managed to break into the top three. In 2011, China finished 6th, their lowest finish to date.

However, the following years saw improvements, with China finishing 4th in both 2012 and 2013, narrowly missing out on a medal. Their best campaign came in 2013, where they surprised many by defeating India 2-0, marking one of their biggest wins in the tournament's history.

Despite these highs, China has struggled in recent editions of the Asian Champions Trophy. In 2016, India delivered a crushing 9-0 defeat to China, showcasing the gap between the two teams at the time. The Chinese team continued to face difficulties, finishing 5th in 2016 and dropping to 6th in the 2023 edition. These results show that while China can compete, they have found it challenging to maintain consistent form at the top level.

China's head-to-head record against India in the Asian Champions Trophy has largely favored the latter. India has won four of their five encounters, with the most recent being a commanding 9-0 victory in 2016.

China did, however, manage a surprising 2-0 win in 2013, showing that they can pose a threat when at their best. Despite India's dominance, playing as hosts may give China a psychological edge as they aim to upset the reigning champions.