17-year wait ends: Asian Champions Trophy brings international hockey back to Punjab after a long hiatus

India’s players celebrate a goal during the gold medal match of the men’s hockey final between Malaysia and India at the ongoing 20th Asian Games in Gifu, Japan. International hockey will return to Punjab after 17 years as India hosts the men’s Asian Champions Trophy for the second time, with Jalandhar and Mohali hosting the tournament from October 27 to November 2.The last international hockey tournament held in the state was the 2009 Punjab Gold Cup.Hockey holds a special place in Punjab, which has played a major role in shaping Indian hockey through its villages, academies and generations of players who have represented the country at the highest level.Six teams – hosts India, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Japan and Bangladesh – will compete for the title in the upcoming tournament.India, the reigning Asian Games champions, are the most successful team in the tournament’s history, having won the title five times in 2011, 2016, 2018 (joint winners), 2023 and 2024.Punjab’s contribution to Indian hockey spans generations, from former greats Udham Singh and Balbir Singh Sr to current players Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh.India captain Harmanpreet, who has led the team to gold medals in two consecutive Asian Games, said the tournament will be special for players from Punjab who will get an opportunity to represent the country at home.“It will be a special occasion for the entire team, especially the players who belong to Punjab, as this is the first time we will be wearing the India jersey in an international tournament in Punjab,” said Harmanpreet Singh, the first captain who led India to back-to-back gold medals at the Asian Games.“My whole family is expected to be at the stadium to watch me play an international match together from the venue for the first time, including my father, who has never seen me play for the country, sitting in the stadium.”Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium at Burlton Park in Jalandhar will host the opening ceremony and league stage matches from October 27 to November 2. The stadium is named after Surjit Singh, the famous defender who was part of the Indian team that won the World Cup in 1975.The tournament will then move to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali to host the semi-finals and medal matches on November 4 and 5.All six teams will face each other once in the league stage, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.Defending champions India will begin their campaign against Bangladesh in Jalandhar on October 27.