Vedanta Kalinga Lancers held their nerve in a high-intensity Final to defeat Ranchi Royals 3–2 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, clinching the Men’s Hero Hockey India League title in front of their home crowd after a gripping contest that went down to the final minute.

Patrick “Paddy” Upton, who has mentored world champions across multiple sports, spoke to PixelSports on the sidelines of the Asia Cup 2025. Upton underlined that hockey requires elite fitness and constant mental conditioning from all eleven players, praising Craig Fulton, Alan Tan, and the Indian team’s dedication in Rajgir’s heat.

The Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir, Bihar promises high drama as eight teams compete for a direct spot at the 2026 Hockey World Cup. With India and South Korea tipped as favorites, Malaysia, Japan, China, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, and debutants Kazakhstan aim to shake up the pools in a landmark tournament for Asian hockey.