Hockey Asian Champions Trophy: Does India still need a tournament it has outgrown?

Jalandhar Halfway through the men’s Asian Champions Trophy (ACT), the difference between India and the rest of the participating teams has become more evident than ever. While it was always expected that the host would dominate the proceedings, the huge gap on the turf raises questions about the relevance of the competition, particularly for India, and the way forward for both the ACT and Asian hockey. When the event was conceptualised and inaugurated way back in 2011, it was meant to be an avenue for Asian teams to compete against and grow with each other.