Pakistan hockey legend Hasan Sardar cannot wait for the sport’s oldest rivalry to re-ignite at the 7th Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Chennai later this year. Six teams—India, Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Japan and South Korea will compete from August 3 to 12 as international hockey returns to the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium after 15 years. 

Given the political tensions between the neighbours, hockey fans weren’t sure if Pakistan would travel to India, but J Sekar Manoharan, president of the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, put to rest all doubts when he recently announced that Pakistan have confirmed their participation.