Pakistan to play in Asian Champions Trophy hockey in India, Punjab CM

Punjab, India's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that Pakistan will join six other teams in the upcoming Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, set to take place from October 27 to November 5. The tournament will see hosts India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia, and Korea compete. Matches will be held in Jalandhar for the league stage, with semi-finals and the final taking place in Mohali.

According to Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh, preparations for all teams are identical and done meticulously. Oman and Bangladesh have been designated as reserve teams in case of any withdrawal. The Asian Champions Trophy, an annual competition under the Asian Hockey Federation, was not held last year due to the pandemic.

India, the defending champions after winning the title in 2023 and retaining it in 2024, are set to participate in the 2026 event. Punjab Chief Minister Mann expressed full support for the tournament and assured that the state was committed to hosting it successfully. He highlighted that although there may be rivalries between India and Pakistan on the hockey field, sport transcends such differences.

Mann emphasized that for hockey enthusiasts, the India-Pakistan match is not about animosity but rather the love for the sport, the crowd's enthusiasm, and the spectacle of the game. Hockey India's Bhola Nath Singh affirmed strong relations between the hockey federations of India and Pakistan, stating that they share excellent relations. The tournament is expected to coincide with Punjab Day, with the India-Pakistan match on November 1 in Jalandhar being a major highlight.