The Women Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 will begin tomorrow at Rajgir in Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the international event tomorrow evening, in which six teams, including India, are taking part. The event will conclude on 20th November, and all matches will be played at the newly built Rajgir Hockey Stadium at the sports complex. All six teams, namely India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Korea, have reached Bodhgaya to participate in the event. The inaugural match will be played at 12.15 noon tomorrow between Japan and Korea.

Meanwhile, the Asian Hockey Federation and hosts Hockey India have announced that all matches of the Asian Champions Trophy have been rescheduled to early hours to prevent potential disruptions caused by a significant insect infestation, particularly when flood lights are on. The stadium is surrounded by paddy fields, which during this season harbor large numbers of insects. The organizers said the Bihar government proactively implemented comprehensive environmental management measures at the venue, including advanced drone operations, intensive fumigation protocols, and international-standard treatments to ensure optimal playing conditions.

They said using the protocols followed in similar situations around the globe, seven types of chemicals, such as cyphenothrin, deltamethrin, and cyfluthrin, among other cold sprays, have been used in and around the stadium complex. Three matches will be played per day during the tournament.