Asian Hockey Federation announces schedule for Bhopal women's tournament
Six teams will compete for the continental title in Madhya Pradesh from November 19 to 28, 2026.
The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has released the match schedule for the Madhya Pradesh Women's Asian Champions Trophy Bhopal 2026, according to ANI. The event is scheduled to run from November 19 to 28 at the new hockey stadium in Nathu Barkheda's International Sports Complex.
Six nations, including India, Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea, will participate in the competition. The tournament follows a round-robin format where every team plays five matches, with the top four sides advancing to the semi-finals.
India enters the tournament as the defending champions and three-time winners, having previously secured the title in 2016, 2023, and 2024. This event marks the first international assignment for the Indian women's team since winning gold at the Asian Games in Japan last month.
The opening day on November 19 features China against Thailand, while India will play its first match against Malaysia following the opening ceremony. India's remaining league matches are scheduled against South Korea on November 21, Thailand on November 22, China on November 24, and Japan on November 25.
The semi-finals and the fifth-place classification match are set for November 27. The competition will end on November 28 with the final and the bronze-medal match.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said the tournament is an opportunity to celebrate the growing strength of women's hockey in Asia. Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh added that the event provides a chance for players to maintain momentum following their recent Asian Games success.