The ninth men's Asia Cup hockey tournament begins today in Malaysia. Indian hockey's World Cup hopes hinge on Asia Cup triumph since the event offers its winners an automatic World Cup qualification as continental champions. India will open their campaign in the first match of the Asia Cup against Oman today followed by match against South Korea on Monday, and against Bangladesh on August 28. India's challengers are Pakistan, South Korea, Malaysia besides hockey minnows Japan, Chinese-Taipei, Bangladesh and Oman. Two-time Asia champions India wasted the earlier opportunity to book a World Cup ticket when it failed to secure a top-three finish at the FIH Hockey World League semi-finals in Rotterdam. The semi-finals will be played on August 30 and the final on September 1.