Insect swarms force change of time in Women's Asian Champions Trophy matches

All matches of the Women's Asian Champions Trophy will now be held in the early afternoon to avoid potential disruptions caused by a large insect infestation in Rajgir. The insects are attracted to floodlights which might become a hazard to players and fans.

In Short

• Women's Asian Champions Trophy matches rescheduled to early afternoon.
• New match timings are 12:15 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4:45 PM
• The change has been made due to insect infestation under floodlights

All matches of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy will now be held in the early afternoon to avoid potential disruptions caused by a large insect infestation, which becomes prominent under floodlights, the Asian Hockey Federation and hosts Hockey India announced on Saturday, 9 November.

According to the revised schedule, the first match of each day will now start at 12:15 PM, the second at 2:30 PM, and the last one at 4:45 PM. Previously, matches were scheduled for the evening, with start times of 3:00 PM, 5:15 PM, and 7:30 PM respectively.

"Our priority is the safety of players, fans, and everyone involved with this prestigious tournament," said Dilip Tirkey, President of Hockey India, in a release. "Hockey is being played at a new venue, and we want to ensure that we maintain high standards while ensuring a smooth and exciting experience not only for teams but also for the people of Bihar, who have been eagerly waiting for this tournament."

The decision was made in consultation with the tournament's organizing committee, following feedback from teams and observations of consecutive training sessions under the floodlights, which revealed a significant increase in insect activity. The stadium is surrounded by paddy fields, which at this time of year are home to large insect populations.

In response, the Bihar State Government has implemented comprehensive environmental management measures at the venue. This includes advanced drone operations, intensive fumigation, and international-standard treatments aimed at providing optimal playing conditions.

Following protocols used in similar situations globally, seven types of chemicals—including Cyphenothrin, Deltamethrin, and Cyfluthrin—along with cold sprays, have been applied in and around the stadium complex, the release added.

Hosts India, along with five other teams—China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand—will play round-robin matches, with the top two sides making the semifinals in the November 11-20 tournament.