Hockey India and the Government of Jharkhand on Tuesday announced Ranchi, Jharkhand as the venue for the prestigious Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023 to be staged in Ranchi 2023. This will be the seventh edition of the coveted tournament which is scheduled to be held from 27th October to 5th November 2023. Defending Champions Japan, runners-up Korea, China, Malaysia, Thailand and hosts India are expected to participate in the tournament. The Indian Women’s Team won this title in 2016 and in the following edition in 2018, they finished runners-up, as per the Hockey India release. Ranchi has previously hosted numerous Hockey India League matches from 2012 to 2015 and was home to the city-based franchise Ranchi Rays. In recent years, the stadium has witnessed several top domestic events being held there and boasts a big fan base for the sport. Jharkhand has a rich hockey history, having produced seven Olympians who have proudly represented India, including Jaipal Singh Munda, Silbanus Dungdung, Manohar Topno, Ajit Lakra, Nikki Pradhan, Salima Tete and Late Shri Michael Kindo and Late Shri Marang Gomke.
Welcoming the participating teams to Jharkhand this October, Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren said, “It is an honour and great privilege for us to welcome the best women’s hockey teams in Asia to come and participate at the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy which is being hosted in India for the very first time. Over the past decade, hockey in Jharkhand has risen to great heights with several players from this state playing for India in both Junior and senior teams. We have also produced several Olympians in the sport over the years, including Jaipal Singh Munda (1928 Amsterdam Olympics), Michael Kindo (1972 Munich Olympics), Sylvanus Dungdung (1980 Moscow Olympics), Ajeet Lakra (1992 Barcelona Olympics), Manohar Topno (1984 Los Angeles Olympics), Nikki Pradhan (2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics), and Salima Tete (2020 Tokyo Olympics), demonstrating the state’s growth in hockey. I believe the 7th edition of Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Ranchi will inspire and encourage more youngsters to take up the sport. I welcome all the participating teams, officials from Asian Hockey Federation and Hockey India to come and enjoy the facilities and hospitality in Jharkhand.”
