The Merdeka Cup is an international tournament associated with which sport?

Introduction / Context:
Many sports tournaments around the world have distinctive names that reflect cultural or historical themes. The Merdeka Cup is one such competition. It is important in sports general knowledge to connect the name of a tournament with the sport it represents. This question asks you to identify which sport is associated with the Merdeka Cup.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The tournament is called the Merdeka Cup.
• It is an international competition.
• The options list four sports: badminton, tennis, football and hockey.
• We must determine which sport is connected with this name.

Concept / Approach:
The Merdeka Cup is an international football tournament, historically held in Malaysia to commemorate the country's independence (Merdeka means independence in Malay). National and club teams from various countries have participated over the years. While Malaysia is also strong in badminton and hockey, this particular tournament name is tied to football, not to the other sports in the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Merdeka refers to independence in the Malaysian context. Step 2: Recall that the Merdeka Cup originated as an invitational football tournament in Malaysia to mark its independence. Step 3: Consider the options. Malaysia is famous for badminton, which may tempt some candidates, but there is no major international tournament named Merdeka Cup in badminton. Step 4: Tennis and hockey also have many tournaments, but again the specific name Merdeka Cup is historically associated with football. Step 5: Conclude that football is the correct sport.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by recalling that football teams from Asian and other countries have participated in the Merdeka Cup over decades, and it has been reported in sports news as a football competition. Match results, standings and historical records all relate to football, which confirms the association.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Badminton: Despite Malaysia's strong badminton tradition, Merdeka Cup is not the name of a major badminton tournament.
Tennis: There are many tennis cups, but Merdeka Cup does not refer to a tennis event.
Hockey: While Asian hockey tournaments exist, Merdeka Cup is not a standard hockey competition.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to associate any Malaysian themed name with badminton because Malaysia is so well known in that sport. Another error is to guess randomly among the four major games. Remembering that Merdeka Cup has often been described in football news segments helps avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
The Merdeka Cup is associated with Football.