{
  "id": 13109926,
  "title": "India gets new opponent after Pakistan withdraws from Asian Hockey Champions Trophy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/india-gets-new-opponent-after-pakistan-withdraws-from-asian-hockey",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-09T11:43:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/india-gets-new-opponent-after-pakistan-withdraws-from-asian-hockey-champions-trophy-1.500704610"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India will face Bangladesh in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy after Pakistan pulled out of the six-team tournament. The competition, set to take place from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali, had Bangladesh accept an invitation from the Asian Hockey Federation to replace the Pakistani team. Pakistan's withdrawal came after they sought a neutral venue for their matches, which was not agreed upon by Hockey India and the AHF. The tournament's opening ceremony will be held at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, with all league-stage matches held there from October 27 to November 2. The semi-finals are set for November 4, followed by the final on November 5. India will enter the tournament as defending champions, having won the previous four editions in 2024, 2011, 2016, and 2018. Pakistan has claimed three titles in the competition's history, including a shared victory with India in 2018. Bangladesh, yet to win the trophy, aims to make their mark on the field. The event offers India an opportunity to defend their title on home soil, facing their most formidable opponent thus far.",
  "summary": "Dubai: India will face a new opponent at the 2026 Asian Hockey Champions Trophy after Pakistan refused to travel to India for the six-team tournament, with Bangladesh set to replace them. The competition will be held from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali. Bangladesh accepted an invitation from the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to take Pakistan’s place after the latter declined to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Bangladesh set to replace Pakistan in Asian Hockey Champions Trophy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/bangladesh-set-to-replace-pakistan-in-asian-hockey-champions-trophy",
        "published": "2026-10-09T12:10:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}