Kakamigahara likely to host 3rd Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tourney

India’s Vokkaliga Raghunath (R) celebrates a goal with teammates against Malaysia during their semi-final at the 2013 Asia Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia on August 30, 2013. India won 2-0. (Getty Images)

The Japanese city of Kakamigahara is likely to stage the third edition of the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament from November 1-10. The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) – the organisers of the event – are, however, yet to officially confirm the city, located in the Gifu Prefecture of central of Japan, as hosts.

It is learnt that the Asian Hockey Federation is keen to hold the third edition of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy simultaneously (from November 1 to 10) at the same venue.

The inaugural Women’s Asian Champions Trophy was held in Busan, Korea in July, 2010. Both the men’s and women’s editions were first held simultaneously in 2011 in Ordos, China, which happened to be the inaugural edition for men.

India men had won the inaugural men’s Asian Champions Trophy beating archrivals Pakistan 4-2 in the penalty shootout in a cracker of a final in September 2011, where PR Sreejesh emerged as the hero, pulling off two crucial saves.

Pakistan exacted sweet revenge in the second edition in December 2012, edging out India 5-4 in a high-voltage, controversy-marred final match in Doha.

Korean eves clinched the inaugural women’s Asian Champions Trophy, prevailing over Japan 2-1. The event featured only four teams – Indian eves, who lost all their league matches tamely, put in splendid show riding on goals from skipper Surinder Kaur and Saba Anjum to script a fine come-from-behind 2-1 win over higher-ranked China, who had crushed the Blueskirts 6-1 in their league tie.

Korea retained the crown in the second edition in 2011, rallying from a two-goal deficit to overpower China 5-3 in front of a partisan crowd in Ordos.

India messed up a bronze medal-winning opportunity when they frittered away a 2-0 lead to go down to Japan 2-3 after the latter scored a controversial extra-time golden goal.