Rajgir (Bihar) [India], August 27 (ANI): The Kazakhstan Men’s Hockey Team touched down in Bihar on Tuesday night time forward of their participation within the Men’s Asia Cup Rajgir, Bihar 2025, set to happen from August 29 to September 7 on the Rajgir Hockey Stadium.
Led by Yerkebulan Dyussebekov, the aspect is making its maiden look on Indian soil and is keen to showcase its potential on the continental stage, in accordance with a press launch from Hockey India.
This shall be solely Kazakhstan’s second outing on the Asia Cup, having final featured within the 1994 version in Hiroshima, Japan, the place they registered a fifth-place end. The identical yr, in addition they secured a sixth-place end on the Asian Games, underlining the nation’s rising presence in Asian hockey on the time.
Currently ranked 81st within the FIH World Rankings, Kazakhstan discover themselves in Pool A, drawn alongside hosts India, in addition to Japan and China–three of Asia’s high hockey powerhouses. They will open their marketing campaign with a stern take a look at towards Japan on August twenty ninth, adopted by a conflict with China on August thirty first, earlier than wrapping up the group stage with a high-profile encounter towards India on September 1st. Upon the group’s arrival, Kazakhstan’s Captain Yerkebulan Dyussebekov stated, as quoted by the Hockey India press launch, ‘We are extraordinarily excited to be right here in India for the very first time. This nation is named the heartland of hockey, and for us to play in such an environment is a really particular alternative. We are trying ahead to experiencing the fervour of the followers and competing at this newly developed venue in Rajgir.’ He added, ‘We have a really younger group, and over the previous few months, our preparation has been about giving these gamers confidence and publicity on the highest stage. The power and enthusiasm within the group is incredible, and we’re desperate to be taught and develop with each match.’ ‘Being positioned in a bunch with India, Japan, and China shall be a tricky problem, however we see this as a terrific likelihood to check ourselves towards among the greatest groups in Asia. Our goal is to battle laborious, play with self-discipline, and make Kazakhstan proud on this massive stage,’ Dyussebekov concluded. (ANI)