Why the 2025 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Would be At its Competitive Best!
It’s after a long hiatus that the 31st edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup would be a really ‘looked-forward-to hockey tournament’ (not that it is not otherwise) simply because it is after a long while that the prestigious hockey tournament would feature some of the world’s crack teams – the last memories of this much-revered tourney witnessing a formidable field was probably the 2018 edition when ‘the then reigning’ Olympic champions Argentina and ‘the then reigning’ world champions Australia were pitted against the likes of India, England, hosts Malaysia, and Ireland.
Fast-forward to 2025 – this year’s edition that would be held in Ipoh from November 22-29, would feature world champions & Olympic silver medallist Germany, Olympic bronze medallist India, 2021 Olympic champions Belgium alongside Ireland, Canada, and hosts Malaysia.
This is a ‘tournament comeback of sorts’ for Germany, who had last featured in the 2004 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup where they finished fourth, having won the tourney twice earlier in 1987 and 2001. Interestingly, this is also for the first time in many years that the reigning world and Olympic champions would be playing in this tournament – Argentina (2016 Olympic champions) and Australia (2014 world champions) had last featured in the 2018 edition.
Back-to-back Olympic bronze medallists India had last played in the 2019 edition capping off a runners-up finish – a tournament they have won on five occasions. Belgium are making a comeback much like their European counterparts Germany, and would be playing only for the second time after their maiden appearance in the 2008 edition when they finished sixth among seven teams. 2021 Olympic silver medallist Australia and former Olympic champions Great Britain (England) and Argentina had last played in the 2018 editions, respectively.
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The impressive look and feel of the 31st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is in stark contrast to previous editions when hosts Malaysia locked horns with lower-rung sides such as Pakistan, South Korea, Japan, Canada, South Africa, Egypt, Ireland etc.
It may observed that reigning Olympic champions Netherlands last played in the 2006 edition, having made their debut in the 1996 edition. The Dutch have been absent from the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for nineteen years now, while Germany and Belgium have been giving this event a miss for twenty and sixteen years now since their last appearances in 2006 and 2008.
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One hopes that the importance of this prestigious hockey tournament is not diluted by the participating teams by resorting to sending ‘A’ or second-string sides given the packed international and club hockey calendar – the organizers – the Malaysia Hockey Confederation deserve a big pat on their backs for conducting this event on a consistent basis and spectators do not feel ‘let down’ and get to watch world-class hockey.
Image Credit: FIH
