Hockey / Punjab to Host Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026, India to Face Pakistan on Nov 1

Chandigarh, Sep 14: Punjab will host the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 for the first time, marking a historic moment for the state.

On Monday, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann unveiled the tournament logo alongside Asian Hockey Federation officials, calling the event “a matter of pride for Punjab.”

The championship will run from October 27 to November 5, with league matches in Jalandhar and the semifinals and final in Mohali.

The tournament will then shift to Mohali, which will host the semi‑finals on November 4 and the grand finale on November 5.

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Six leading hockey nations will compete, including India and Pakistan. The much‑anticipated India‑Pakistan clash on November 1 will coincide with Punjab Day in Jalandhar, adding symbolic significance to the encounter.

“The India‑Pakistan encounter on November 1 in Jalandhar will be one of the biggest attractions of the tournament. The match will coincide with Punjab Day, making the occasion even more special for the people of Punjab. India and Pakistan may have their rivalries on the hockey field, but sport has its own language,” CM Mann said.

The Chief Minister announced that the government has allocated ₹25.40 crore for the organisation of the championship. He emphasized that the entire state machinery will work to ensure its success. In a major move to promote hockey among youth, entry to all matches will be free.

Calling the event “an emotional homecoming of the sport,” CM Mann said, “The historic Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 is not merely a hockey tournament for Punjab. It is an emotional homecoming of the sport to the land that has nurtured generations of Indian hockey heroes. For the first time, Punjab is hosting an international hockey tournament of this stature on its own soil.”

He added, “The Punjab government is determined to make it an unforgettable sporting spectacle for players, spectators and hockey lovers across India and the world. Punjab is synonymous with hockey — the game and Punjabis are two sides of the same coin.”

Tracing Punjab’s rich hockey legacy, Mann highlighted villages like Sansarpur, Khusropur and Mithapur, which have produced Olympians and national champions.

“Punjab has produced more than 50 Olympic medallists and 10 national captains, including legends like Olympian Balbir Singh Sr., Udham Singh and Ajit Pal Singh. Even today, this tradition continues. During the Paris 2024 Olympics, Punjab had 10 players representing India, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the national side,” he said.

The Chief Minister stressed that hosting the Asian Champions Trophy is not just about competition but about celebrating Punjab’s identity as the heartland of Indian hockey.

“Every visiting player should feel that Punjab has provided them with facilities of international standard, and every spectator should feel proud of the experience,” he said.

He also noted that Pakistan’s participation adds a unique dimension to the championship.

“The hockey federations on both sides have maintained cordial sporting relations. The state government wants the tournament to reflect the true spirit of competition, intense on the field but respectful beyond it,” Mann concluded.

(IANS)