Pakistan to play Asian Champions Trophy hockey in India: Punjab CM Mann

Pakistan will be among the six countries participating in the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Mohali next month, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Monday, citing the union government’s policy of allowing the arch-enemies to play on Indian soil during multilateral encounters.

To be held from October 27 to November 5, the Asian Champions Trophy will feature India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia and Korea and will be played at the Jalandhar and Mohali hockey stadiums.

Two reserve teams, Oman and Bangladesh, were also named for the tournament in case of withdrawal. Held under the auspices of the Asian Hockey Federation, the event is an annual competition but was not held last year.

India enters the competition as the defending champions having won the title in 2023 (Chennai) and 2024 (Hulunbuir, China).

“There is no problem in the multi-nation tournaments. Maybe the individual series (India and Pakistan) cannot take place,” Mann said when asked about Pakistan’s participation and whether the necessary permissions have been taken for it.

Central Sports Policy in relation to Pakistan prevents any bilateral dealings with the country against which India launched a brief military offensive only last year after the Pahalgam terror attack killed 26 people.

However, the Sports Ministry said in accordance with the Olympic Charter that the two countries could compete against each other in multilateral events and India would not prevent athletes from across the border from playing here for such events.

Despite that Pakistan withdrew from the Junior World Cup of hockey in Tamil Nadu last year, citing high tensions between the two countries in the wake of Operation Sindoor.

Mann said the ACT league stage matches will be played at Jalandhar while the semi-finals and finals will be played at the Mohali Stadium.

Assuring full support to host the event, Mann said that Punjab is committed to ensure the successful organization of the first ever tournament in the state’s history.

GOOD RELATIONS IN HOCKEY

Hockey India general secretary Bhola Nath Singh, who also attended Monday’s event, said the relationship between the Indian and Pakistan hockey federations was “excellent”.

“I want to put it on record that we share a very good relationship between the hockey federations of India and Pakistan.

“You must have noticed that whenever I go, if the Indian team beats Pakistan, I meet the Pakistan team first. The guys (players) there also show immense respect,” Singh said.

The Asian Champions Trophy will begin on October 27 in Jalandhar and the final match will be held in Mohali on November 5.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

14 Sep 2026 13:54 IST