Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Hangzhou - A Preview

Image Credit: Hockey India

The journey has officially begun for the Indian Women’s Hockey Team as they departed from Bengaluru on August 30, 2025, for Hangzhou, China, to compete in the Women’s Asia Cup 2025. Led by captain Salima Tete, the 20-member squad carries the weight of national expectation and the promise of securing a direct berth for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Drawn in Pool B, India will face Thailand, Japan, and Singapore in the group stage, beginning their campaign against Thailand on September 5th, followed by a crucial clash with Japan on September 6th, before concluding pool action against Singapore on September 8th.

“This tournament is a really good opportunity for us to secure our spot for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup next year, and we are focusing on that. Our first priority at present is to top our Pool and reach the Super Fours. From there, we will take each game as it comes and make our way towards the trophy,” said Salima before the team’s departure.

With China hosting and aiming to reclaim continental supremacy, defending champions Japan looking sharp under new systems, India driven by their aggressive pressing under Harendra Singh, and other Asian challengers ready to spring surprises, the stage is set for a fierce contest in Hangzhou.

Let’s take a closer look at how each team arrives at the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 and where they stand heading into the competition. China:

China’s women’s hockey team arrives at the 2025 Women’s Asia Cup in Hangzhou as one of Asia’s most storied sides, boasting a rich history, tactical sophistication under a world class coaching staff, and a roster laden with international pedigree. China quickly became a continental power, winning the Asia Cup in 2009, 2013, and 2015, and finishing runners up in 2022. The team clinched Olympic silver on home soil in Beijing 2008 and most recently secured silver at Paris 2024. They are ranked 4^th in the FIH Women’s World Rankings with 2,813.01 points, behind Netherlands, Argentina, and Belgium. At the helm is Alyson Annan, a two time Olympic gold medalist with Australia and Tokyo 2020 gold winning coach of the Dutch women. Since her appointment in 2023, Annan has instilled a relentless work ethic and high intensity tactical acumen. She is supported by assistant coaches Ric Charlesworth, another Australian legend and Cui Yingbiao, China’s former men’s defender. The trio emphasizes player led analysis like athletes review footage live and contribute adjustments at halftime. Annan deploys a versatile 3–4–3 formation that shifts to 5–4–1 in defense.

China finished fifth in FIH Pro League 2023-24, their best FIH Pro League result, with key wins over Australia (2–1) and Spain (3–2). They also returned to the podium with a silver in Paris 2024 Olympics, thrashing Japan 5–0 in group play before defeating Belgium in a shoot out quarterfinal. They recently recorded warm up victories against Thailand (5–0) and Singapore (4–1), showcasing improved cohesion and match sharpness.

Key players: Gu Bingfeng, Zhong Jiaqi, Li Hong, Song Qingling, Wang Yi.

China Rating: 9.0/10 - China’s blend of historical pedigree, world class coaching, tactical versatility, and recent form earns them a 9.0/10 heading into Hangzhou. As hosts and former champions, they possess both the ambition and the infrastructure to reclaim the Asia Cup crown and secure their place at the 2026 FIH World Cup.

South Korea:

As five-time Women’s Asia Cup champions and perennial Asian powerhouses, South Korea arrive in Hangzhou aiming to reclaim the continental crown from host China for the first time since 2012. Their pedigree dates back four decades, champions in 1985, 1993, 1999, 2009, and 2012, and runners up in 2017 and 2022. On the world stage, they earned Olympic bronze in Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996 and reached consecutive World Cup semifinals in 1994 and 1998. As of August 2025, South Korea sits 16^th in the FIH Women’s World Rankings with 1,790.12 points, making them Asia’s third highest ranked team behind host China and India. Under head coach Sin Seok-gyo, a former national team defender with 150 caps, South Korea deploys a disciplined, defense first approach built around a flexible 3–5–2 formation.

South Korea’s recent results underscore their consistency at the top level. They finished second at the 2024 Asia Cup, defeating Malaysia and India in the pool stage before falling narrowly to China in the final. In the 2023–24 FIH Hockey Pro League, they recorded notable wins over Spain and Germany, finishing sixth overall, an improvement on previous years. This summer, Korea tuned up with a 1–0 victory over Japan, a 2–2 draw with Malaysia, and a comprehensive 3–0 win against Thailand, showcasing their defensive resolve and set piece prowess.

Key players: Jung Soo-jung, Cho Hye-jung, Kim Seo-hyeon, Lee Nam-yong, Jang Jong-hyun.

South Korea Rating: 8.5/10 - South Korea combine historic pedigree, tactical discipline, and specialized coaching to remain Asia’s elite. Their robust defensive foundation, dynamic set piece arsenal, and balanced squad depth make them strong contenders for the 2025 Asia Cup title, with minor concerns around midfield creativity under sustained opposition pressure.

Malaysia:

Malaysia’s women’s hockey team arrives in Hangzhou with a mission to build on steady progress and challenge Asia’s elite. Since their Asia Cup debut in 1985, Malaysia have evolved from regional outsiders to regular competitors. They finished fifth in the 2007 Asia Cup, claimed bronze at the 1982 Asian Games, and established a development pathway through the Bandar Penawar Sports School in 2011. Malaysia currently sit 25^th in the FIH Women’s World Rankings, reflecting incremental gains but a clear gap to the top eight. At the helm is Head Coach Ibrahim Nasihin, appointed in early 2025 started his stint by guiding Malaysia’s women through the FIH Women’s Nations Cup 2 in Poland. Nasihin, formerly assistant under K. Dharmaraj, has introduced a structured, possession oriented style built around a 4–3–3 formation. Midfielders are tasked with quick recycle and diagonal ball progression, while full backs overlap to stretch oppositions. Nasihin’s philosophy emphasizes fluid rotations between midfield and attack, pressing in synchronised lines to regain possession high up the pitch, and exploiting the pace of wide forwards on the counter.

In preparation for Hangzhou, Malaysia contested a mini tournament in Kuala Lumpur in June, beating Thailand 2-1 and drawing 3-3 with Singapore, before falling 1-4 to India in a final tune up. These results highlighted both attacking promise, particularly in set plays and persistent defensive lapses under sustained pressure.

Key players: Nurul Suriati, Zubaidah Yaacob, Azuan Hassan, Aisyah Rahman, Sharifah Nadia, Angeline Raj, Suriqah Ismail, Shimah Latiff.

Malaysia Rating: 6.5/10 - Malaysia enter the Women’s Asia Cup as dark horses. Their disciplined possession game and set piece threat make them capable of upsets, yet consistency against high pressing teams like China and Korea will be crucial. Under Ibrahim Nasihin’s progressive coaching and with a core of seasoned campaigners, Malaysia aim to crack the Super 4s for the first time and narrow the gap to Asia’s hockey heavyweights.

Chinese Taipei:

Chinese Taipei’s women’s hockey team arrives in Hangzhou as relative newcomers seeking to establish themselves among Asia’s elite. Their women’s national side only began organized competition in the late 1990s, with intermittent appearances in AHF events. Their development accelerated after the establishment of the Chinese Taipei Hockey Association’s High Performance Center in Kaohsiung in 2015, which prioritized youth academies and international exposure. Chinese Taipei is ranked 40^th in the FIH Women’s World Rankings with 972.72 points, reflecting gradual but steady improvement. Under head coach Huang Jen-hung, an Olympic level player turned tactician after captaining the U18 team, Chinese Taipei usually plays a pragmatic 5–3–2 formation designed to maximize defensive solidity and opportunistic attacks. Training camps held in Kaohsiung and a month long residential programme in Sapporo, Japan, sharpened tactical cohesion and exposed the squad to higher tempo hockey. Analysis focused on improving transition play, quick passing exchanges in midfield, and refined penalty corner setups.

Leading up to the Asia Cup, Chinese Taipei contested the 2025 AHF Cup in Jakarta, finishing fourth with a milestone 2–1 win over Uzbekistan courtesy of two goals from Wu Chih-hsuan. They narrowly lost 1–0 to Indonesia and were edged 3–2 by Thailand, demonstrating competitive spirit despite gaps in squad depth. A subsequent tri nation series in Taipei yielded a 1–1 draw with Hong Kong and a 0–3 defeat to South Korea, highlighting defensive resilience but limited attacking penetration.

Key players: Wu Chih-hsuan, Huang Jen-hung, Lee Kuang-cheng, Chen Yi-ming, Tsao Chia-lin, Hsu Pei-yi.

Chinese Taipei Rating: 5.0/10 - Their disciplined 5–3–2 and set piece strengths make them capable of frustrating stronger sides, but limited creative options and squad experience under sustained pressure constrain their potential. Hangzhou 2025 represents a valuable learning curve strong defensive showings and opportunistic scoring will be the keys to making their mark at the Women’s Asia Cup.

India:

India's women's hockey team is currently ranked 9^th in the FIH World Rankings as of August 2025, with 2,242.62 points. This represents their position as the second best team in Asia, behind China who are ranked 4th globally. The team's best ever world ranking was 6th place in 2022 following their third place finish in the inaugural FIH Pro League. However, their recent Pro League campaign has been disappointing, finishing 9th and last with relegation to the FIH Nations Cup for the 2026-27 season. Dr. Harendra Singh, appointed as chief coach in April 2024, brings extensive experience as both player and coach. A Dronacharya Award winner, he represented India in 43 international matches and won silver at the 1990 Asian Games as a player. His coaching achievements include leading the 2016 Junior Men's World Cup victory, the 2017 Women's Asia Cup triumph, and the 2018 Men's Asian Games bronze medal. Dr. Harendra Singh has implemented a revolutionary tactical approach inspired by football principles, most notably the six second rule borrowed from modern football tactics. This high intensity pressing system requires players to win back possession within six seconds of losing the ball, forcing opponents into quick decisions and creating turnover opportunities. The philosophy emphasizes aggressive, Australian style hockey with rapid counterattacks and constant pressure on opponents.

India's 2025 campaign has been marked by contrasting fortunes in different competitions. They successfully defended their Asian Champions Trophy title in Rajgir with a dominant performance, defeating China 1-0 in the final through a Deepika goal. The tournament saw India go undefeated with impressive victories including a 13-0 demolition of Thailand and comprehensive wins over Japan and South Korea. However, their FIH Pro League 2024-25 campaign ended in disappointment with relegation to the FIH Nations Cup after finishing 9th and last in the standings. They managed only 10 points from 16 matches, winning just two games and suffering eight consecutive losses in the European leg. The campaign highlighted their struggles against top European teams, with defensive lapses and inability to convert scoring chances proving costly throughout the season.

Key players: Salima Tete, Navneet Kaur, Deepika Sehrawat, Bichu Devi Kharibam.

India Rating: 7.5/10 - A team with strong regional credentials and innovative coaching approach, possessing the foundation for future success but requiring significant improvement in consistency and execution against elite international opposition to achieve their ultimate objectives.

Japan:

Japan's women's hockey team currently occupies the 12^th position in the FIH World Rankings with 2,029.56 points. This represents a one position improvement from their previous ranking, demonstrating steady progress under their current coaching regime. Their ranking places them as the third best Asian team, trailing China and India, while maintaining their position ahead of South Korea in the continental hierarchy. Jude Menezes, the Mumbai born former Indian international goalkeeper, assumed control of Japan's women's hockey program in November 2021 following their disappointing 11^th place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. His appointment marked a significant departure from traditional Japanese coaching approaches, bringing international experience gained through his successful tenure with New Zealand's Black Sticks women's team from 2015 to 2018. Menezes's coaching philosophy centers on developing independent hockey players rather than micromanaging from the sidelines. His approach contrasts sharply with the vocal, instruction heavy styles commonly seen in international hockey, preferring to observe and intervene only when necessary. This methodology stems from his belief that players must make autonomous decisions during fast paced match situations. The language barrier initially presented significant challenges, with only a handful of Japanese players understanding English fluently. Menezes addressed this creatively by developing a comprehensive visual training system incorporating whiteboards, video analysis, and practical field demonstrations to accommodate different learning styles. His approach recognizes that individuals process information differently, some through auditory instruction, others through visual demonstration, and many through kinesthetic learning requiring physical practice. His tactical preparation emphasizes discipline in both defensive and attacking circles, recognizing that matches are ultimately decided in these crucial areas regardless of midfield possession or creative play. This focus on structure and defensive organization has become a hallmark of Japan's play under his guidance, though it has sometimes come at the expense of attacking fluidity.

Japan's recent competitive record presents a complex picture of regional success combined with struggles against elite global opposition. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Japan finished 10th out of 12 teams, representing a modest improvement from their 11th place finish at Tokyo 2020 but still falling short of their ambitious goals. The FIH Nations Cup campaigns have provided more encouraging results, with Japan finishing 3rd in 2022, 5th in 2023-24, and 6th in 2024-25. Their 2024-25 Nations Cup performance in Chile included a dramatic 5-4 victory over South Korea that exemplified both their resilience and tactical limitations. They advanced from their pool with a 1-1-1 record but were eliminated in the 5th-8th place classification matches. At the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir, Japan secured bronze medal position with a dominant 4-1 victory over Malaysia. This performance demonstrated their continued competitiveness within Asian hockey, featuring clinical finishing and sustained attacking pressure that overwhelmed their opponents. However, their semifinal defeat to India highlighted ongoing challenges against their primary regional rivals.

Key players:  Yuri Nagai, Eika Nakamura, Yu Asai, Shihori Oikawa, Hazuki Nagai, Shiho Kobayakawa, Miyu Hasegawa.

Japan Rating: 7.0/10 - A tactically disciplined team with strong regional credentials and innovative coaching leadership, possessing clear development trajectory toward higher international competitiveness while facing structural challenges that must be addressed for sustained elite level success.

Thailand:

Thailand's women's hockey team currently occupies the 30^th position with 1167.61 points in the FIH World Rankings, placing them among the lower tier nations in international field hockey. This ranking reflects their status as a developing hockey nation that faces significant challenges when competing against established Asian powers and global elite teams. While their ranking may appear modest, it represents Thailand's commitment to maintaining an active presence in international hockey competition despite limited resources and infrastructure compared to traditional hockey strongholds. The coaching leadership of Thailand's women's hockey program has been significantly influenced by Nuengrutai Srathongvian, known as "Coach Nueng," who has played multiple roles within Thai sports administration. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes discipline, tactical organization, and maximum effort from limited resources. Having experienced success at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup where Thailand achieved their first ever World Cup victory against Ivory Coast, she brings championship level experience to hockey coaching. However, her tenure has also included significant challenges, particularly the record 13-0 defeat against the United States at the 2019 World Cup, which highlighted the substantial gap between Thailand and elite international competition. Thailand's tactical approach reflects their status as a developing hockey nation facing regular encounters with superior opposition. Their playing philosophy centers on defensive organization, disciplined positioning, and exploiting limited scoring opportunities through quick counterattacks and set piece execution.

At the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir, Thailand finished 6^th out of 6 teams with a record that included both encouraging and disappointing performances. Their 1-1 draw with Japan represented a significant achievement, demonstrating their ability to compete tactically against higher ranked opponents through organized defending and clinical finishing. However, their comprehensive defeats to India (13-0) and China (15-0) highlighted the enormous gap between their current capabilities and Asia's elite teams. Their 2025 Indoor World Cup campaign in Croatia provided more encouraging results, finishing 8th overall after reaching the quarterfinals. This achievement represented significant progress for a tournament debutant, particularly their stunning 2-1 victory over Austria, the defending silver medalists. The victory demonstrated Thailand's capacity for tactical preparation and execution when properly motivated and prepared.

During the Indoor World Cup, Thailand's group stage performance showed tactical discipline and competitive spirit. Their 4-4 draw with South Africa and narrow defeats to established teams demonstrated improved match management and tactical awareness. The quarterfinal appearance marked their best ever performance in a major international tournament outside of Southeast Asian competition.

Key players: Somlak Suttiprapa, Jiratchaya Todkaew, Tikhamporn Sakulpithak, Panyapa Thongchao, Orasa Srisompob.

Thailand Rating: 4.0/10 - A team demonstrating admirable commitment and occasional flashes of competitive ability within significant resource constraints, possessing foundations for continued development but facing substantial challenges in achieving consistent competitiveness against established regional powers.

Singapore:

Singapore's women's hockey team currently occupies the 31^st position in the FIH World Rankings with 1148.34 points, representing a remarkable achievement for this small island nation. This ranking positions them significantly higher than their regional Southeast Asian counterparts and reflects their consistent commitment to hockey development despite geographical and resource constraints. Their current ranking represents their highest ever world position, demonstrating sustained improvement under their long term coaching structure. David Viner has served as Singapore's women's national team head coach since September 2015, bringing nearly a decade of stability and continuity to the program. The Belgian born coach, who previously worked in graphic design, brings European coaching methodology and international experience gained through his tenure with Belgium's junior hockey programs. Viner's coaching philosophy emphasizes tactical discipline, structured play, and maximizing performance within available resources. His approach combines European technical training methods with pragmatic recognition of Singapore's competitive limitations, focusing on defensive organization and exploiting limited scoring opportunities through clinical execution. His methodology has been particularly effective in tournament settings where tactical preparation and mental resilience often determine outcomes against stronger opponents. Singapore's tactical approach under David Viner emphasizes defensive solidity combined with clinical counterattacking play, recognizing their need to maximize limited possession opportunities against stronger opponents. Their formation typically features compact defensive structures designed to limit space and force opponents into wide areas where Singapore's organized defending can be most effective.

Singapore's 2025 AHF Cup victory in Jakarta represents their most significant hockey achievement and demonstrates their emergence as a competitive force in second tier Asian hockey. Their tournament performance included decisive victories over Indonesia (2-0), Sri Lanka (5-2), and Uzbekistan (5-0), alongside a competitive draw with Hong Kong (3-3), before their historic final victory over Chinese Taipei.

Key players: Laura Tan Si Ru, Dayana Ong, Nadiah Ong, Jolene Ng, Puay Ho.

Singapore Rating: 6.0/10 - A well organized team with strong and stable leadership and recent tournament success that demonstrates effective development within resource constraints, possessing clear tactical identity and competitive spirit while facing substantial challenges in achieving consistent competitiveness against established Asian hockey powers.