Thank you for joining us for the live coverage! India had to fight for it, but they do begin the Asia Cup on home soil with a win. Remember, the winner of the tournament gets an automatic entry to the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. 

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live and latest sports updates. The hockey may be over, but badminton is underway, with PV Sindhu in action in the quarters of the BWF World Championships. FOLLOW HERE

Full time! India win their Asia Cup 2025 opener, but boy, did they have to work hard for it! Harmanpreet Singh the hero in the end with a hattrick. Commiserations to China, who pushed India all the way and narrowly lost in the end.

IND 4-3 CHN

Q3 13' Jarmanpreet Singh is back on the field for the final 2-and-a-half minutes of play. India back to 11 men. The hosts are slowing things down here, although they do create a chance to score. Very little time left.

IND 4-3 CHN

Q4 8' Yellow card for Jarmanpreet Singh! It will be a 5-minute suspension for the star defender. India will have to play with 10 men for five of the remaining eight minutes. Big advantage for China, can they make it count?

IND 4-3 CHN

Q4 3' GOAL! Redemption for Harmanpreet Singh. Back-to-back penalty corners for India, and they end up converting from the second. Great shot by Harmanpreet, who makes up for his penalty stroke miss earlier. India lead again!

IND 4-3 CHN

And breathe! What a period of hockey. India went two goals up early in the half as Harman scored. But China bounced back, making it 3-2, and then even seeing a goal disallowed. Harman then missed from the penalty spot, and China then scored to stun India and equalise.

15 more minutes to go! Don't go anywhere.

IND 3-3 CHN

Q3 12' GOAL! More drama in the third quarter! China have now slammed in the equaliser, and Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh has been made to pay for the penalty miss. What an enthralling period of play this has been.

The game is wide open now!

IND 3-3 CHN

Q3 10' Oh dear! India are awarded a penalty stroke, but captain Harmanpreet Singh misses it! Harmanpreet goes right, gets it beyond the keeper, but hits the post. Harmanpreet squanders a chance for a hattrick too.

IND 3-2 CHN

Q3 7' Goal disallowed! China thought they'd completed the comeback, but the goal is disallowed due to a foul in the buildup. Two goals disallowed in the match now -- one for India and one for China. India keep the lead.

IND 3-2 CHN

Q3 5' GOAL! China fighting back! Once again, the visitors make good use of a penalty corner, and it is their second goal of the day. Nervous moments for India. Can China capitalise on this momentum?

IND 3-2 CHN

Q3 3' GOAL! India score their third goal of the day, and it is the second for captain Harmanpreet Singh. Not from a typical drag flick, but India maintaint their composure near the box before the finishing touch is given by the captain. Mountain to climb for China now.

IND 3-1 CHN

Q3 1' The third quarter is underway at Rajgir. India were the dominant team in the first 30 minutes, and will look to extend their advantage over China in the remainder of the match. But China get an early PC!

But China fail to score.

IND 2-1 CHN

Half-time! India had a tricky start, seeing their early goal disallowed and then watching China score their first PC. But the men in blue have roared back in front of a packed crowd at Rajgir, scoring twice in the second quarter to take a 2-1 lead.

IND 2-1 CHN

Q2 10' Green card shown to Hardik Singh for a foul. This means, he will have to be on the bench for 2 minutes. Can China take advantage? One of the Chinese players dribble into the box brilliantly, but sees his shot blocked.

IND 2-1 CHN

Q2 4' GOAL! Signature Harmanpreet Singh! Terrific drag flick from the Indian captain. A smile of relief and muted celebrations from the Harmanpreet. India complete the comeback. From 0-1 down to 2-1 up!

IND 2-1 CHN

Q2 3' GOAL! India strike back! Finally a reward for the number of chances they have created. India get a penalty corner, and even though captain Harmanpreet is not on the pitch, India make the chance count! Jugraj Singh with the goal.

IND 1-1 CHN

Q2 1' The second quarter is underway here at Rajgir. India have created many more chances than China, but find themselves behind as the visitors made their only penalty corner count. Pressure on the hosts!

IND 0-1 CHN

Q1 15' The first quarter ends with India squandering another opportunity from a penalty corner. Harmanpreet, the PC expert, takes the shot, but it goes wide of the goal. India have got more chances, but China lead after Q1!

IND 0-1 CHN

Q1 13' GOAL! China score! Against the run of play, they earn a penalty corner on the left and convert it brilliantly. Looks the final touch before the ball went in came from an Indian stick. How can India recover from here?

IND 0-1 CHN

Q1 3' India were celebrating a goal inside 3 minutes, but it has been ruled out after a referral taken by China! Referee adjudges it to be a push by Hardik Singh before the goal, which is ruled as a foul. As a result, no goal is awarded.

IND 0-0 CHN

Q1 1' India with a huge chance very early on! The move builds up down the right flank, and the ball is squared in for Abhishek in front of goal, but the goalkeeper makes an excellent save! Massive chance for India.

IND 0-0 CHN

As expected, it is India's talismanic captain Harmanpreet Singh leading the team today. A strong lineup, also featuring the likes of Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh.

That's how our boys line up for their opening match at the Hero Asia Cup, Rajgir, Bihar 2025, against China. #HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HumSeHaiHockey #HeroAsiaCupRajgir pic.twitter.com/0NktoPRR9F

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 29, 2025

The Indian and Chinese players now jog on to the ground. A packed crowd at Rajgir for India's first Asia Cup 2025 match. The teams are now lining up for the national anthems. Action is about to begin in a few moments!

With a tournament of such high profile taking place in the state of Bihar, the Chief Minister of the state, Nitish Kumar, is also in attendance for India's first match. Gets a rounding ovation from the crowd as he waves to the fans.

India have faced off against China 7 times in international hockey, and India hold a massive advantage. India have a 6-1 record against China, and are firm favourites heading into the clash today.

The expected start time is 3:00 PM IST, which is in just about 7 minutes from now. Meanwhile, the match between Japan and Kazakhstan -- the other two teams in Pool A -- has ended. Japan clinch a dominant 7-0 victory over Kazakhstan!

Today is symbolically the perfect day for India to begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign. It is August 29, the birthday of legendary Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand, and India also celebrate their 'National Sports Day' on this day. 

India have won the Men's hockey Asia Cup on three occasions in the past -- 2003, 2007 and 2017. Their title in 2007 was won on home soil, and India will be hoping to repeat the same this year. The Asia Cup is being played in Rajgir, Bihar this year.

The big bonus of winning the Asia Cup 2025 is that the winner will get a direct entry to the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. India are three-time champions of the tournament, and are one of the favourites to win the cup this year.

A very warm welcome to one and all for the live coverage of the Asia Cup 2025! The Indian men's team are in action today, as they take on China in their first Pool A match. India are gunning for title No. 4, and direct World Cup qualification via this tournament!

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live updates from the match.