The 2022 Asian Games, Hangzhou

China builds a green, intelligent, civilization-led games.

Good things come to those who wait. Or as a Chinese proverb teaches, ‘You cannot stretch young plants to make them grow.’ The latest edition of The Asian Games was originally destined for 2022, but the COVID-19 pandemic has kept us waiting until 2023. The delayed event takes place from 23 September to 8 October and has been built with the concept of "green, intelligence, frugality, and civilization” at its heart. Hockey is one of the 37 sports to be played out across the 56 competition venues.

Hockey’s storied history at the Asian Games

Hockey has a rich heritage at the Asian Games. The men’s competition started at the 1958 edition in Tokyo, with the introduction of the women's game following in 1982 when the event came to New Delhi. Pakistan’s men’s team have recorded the most victories with 8 Asian Games titles. South Korea’s women take the record for the women’s competition with 5 wins. Current champions Japan claimed the double men’s and women’s win in 2018 and will be out in force this year to defend their title.

The wait is over for this year’s teams

This year’s competition will be very strong. The men’s competition sports 12 teams including the highest ranked Japan, Malaysia, India and Pakistan. With 10 nations represented in the women’s tournament, Japan will need to fend off fierce competition from the likes of India, Korea and China if they are to retain the silverware. But the biggest prize at stake is Paris. Winner of this Asian Games will secure their places at next summer’s Olympic Games. There is everything to play for.

“Echoing the event’s frugal promise, each turf saves 28 tonnes of CO₂ compared to a traditional turf.”

An intelligent, green hockey turf to match the event’s vision

The hockey turf at the Grand Canal Asian Games Park, also known as the “Hangzhou Umbrella” is overlooked by 5,000 audience seats and provides fans with a clear reflection of the event’s vision. The Poligras Tokyo GT turf which has been laid by Polytan in both the main stadium and warm-up pitch, was hockey’s first bio-based turf using green technology developed for Tokyo2020. Made from 60% sugar cane, it was chosen for its sustainability value and marks the 6th Asian Games to be played on Poligras. Echoing the event’s frugal promise, each turf saves 28 tonnes of CO₂ compared to a traditional turf.

Carbon zero hockey is here

Since Tokyo, the technology has been developed further. The Poligras Paris GT zero turf which will provide the Olympic hockey stage next summer is our latest generation bio-based turf. Made from 80% sugarcane and manufactured with green energy it is the world’s first carbon zero turf. The product of over five years of R&D, like this much-anticipated Asian Games, some things are worth the wait.