Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren unveiled the mascot of the upcoming Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2023. The mascot 'Juhi' symbolizes the rich heritage of Jharkhand and is inspired by the iconic elephant of Betla National Park. FIH President Dato Taib Ikram, Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh and Hockey India Treasurer Shekhar J Manoharan were also present on the occasion.
Mascot ‘Juhi’: Symbol of Jharkhand’s rich heritage
Symbol of unity and diversity: The unveiling of “Juhi” as the mascot holds great significance as it symbolizes the spirit of unity and diversity. Sporting events have the power to transcend borders and promote international harmony, and mascots serve as symbols of this unity.
Promoting women in sports: The event emphasizes women's participation in sports. In a society where gender equality is a significant concern, such initiatives highlight the importance of promoting women in various fields, including sports.
Trophy Tour launched
The event also marked the launch of the Trophy Tour for the tournament. This magnificent trophy will go on a tour of all the districts of the state from October 13, 2023. The Trophy Tour will conclude with the trophy returning to Ranchi on October 25, 2023, setting the stage for the start of the tournament.
Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2023 organized
The Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2023 hockey tournament will be held in Ranchi, Jharkhand from October 27 to November 5. The Women's Asian Champions Trophy, in its seventh edition, will be held in India for the first time. This is also the first international hockey tournament organized by Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand.
The six best teams from Asia – India, defending champions Japan, People's Republic of China, Korea Republic, Malaysia and Thailand – will compete for the title in the upcoming edition. India, ranked eighth in the world hockey rankings, is currently the top women's hockey team in Asia, followed by Japan (10), China (11), Korea (12), Malaysia (18) and Thailand (30). The top four teams at the end of the group stage will qualify for the semi-finals.
The previous edition of the Women's Asian Champions Trophy Hockey was held in Donghae, Korea in 2021. Japan defeated Korea 2–1 in the final to win its second title. However, three-time champions Korea are the most successful team in women's Asian Champions Trophy hockey. Korea won the inaugural edition in 2010 and defended the title in 2011. They defeated India in the 2018 final for their last trophy.
For the record, the Indian women's hockey team has reached the final of the Asian Champions Trophy three times, but won it just once, in 2016. The Women's Asian Champions Trophy was held in 2010 and 2011 and again in 2013. It was made a biennial event in 2016. In 2016, the number of teams in the women's tournament increased from four to five. The 2021 edition also had six teams.