A special occasion for the entire team: Harmanpreet Singh; Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2026 set to showcase Punjab’s hockey legacy

It will be the second time that India will host the men’s edition of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy after Chennai in 2023, and the occasion will also mark return of international hockey to Punjab that has given India some of its most iconic hockey players across generations

Rakesh Thapliyal 

New Delhi, 14th October 2026: The men’s Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2026 will return to India for the second time, following Chennai in 2023. This marks a special occasion as international hockey returns to Punjab — a place that has seen the tradition of hockey passed down through generations, incessantly producing international players.

For Punjab, hockey is more than a sport. It is a source of immense pride and an integral part of the state’s cultural identity. From its villages and academies to the international arena, Punjab has played a defining role in shaping Indian hockey.

As the Hero Men’s Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 approaches, the state is preparing to welcome Asia’s finest teams to one of the game’s spiritual homes in India. Besides hosts India, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Japan and Bangladesh will vie for the top honours from October 27 to November 2.

For the record, reigning Asian Games champions India enter the tournament as the most successful team, having won the ACT title five times – 2011, 2016, 2018 (joint winners), 2023 and 2024.

Punjab’s contribution to the national team is reflected in generations of players who have represented the country at the highest level – from Udham Singh and Balbir Singh Sr to the current generation of Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh. Its sporting culture, grassroots structures and enduring passion have helped produce Olympic medallists, World Cup winners and national stalwarts.

The upcoming tournament offers an opportunity to celebrate that legacy while bringing elite competition closer to its traditional supporters. Jalandhar and Mohali will share hosting duties, placing Punjab’s rich sporting heritage and infrastructure at the centre of a major continental event.

“It’s going to be a special occasion for the entire team, especially for the players who belong to Punjab because it’s the first time that we will be wearing India jersey at an international tournament in Punjab,” said India captain Harmanpreet Singh.

“My entire family is expected to be at the stadium watching 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 while sitting inside the stadium,” added Harmanpreet, the first Indian captain to lead the country in two Asian Games gold medal triumphs and that too in consecutive editions.

Jalandhar holds a special place in this story. The city has nurtured generations of players, especially from the villages of Sansarpur and Mithapur, and remains closely associated with the sport’s development in India. The Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium at Burlton Park, named after the celebrated defender and 1975 World Cup winner, will host the opening ceremony and league-stage matches from Oct 27 to Nov 2. The tournament will then move to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali for the semi-finals and medal matches on Nov 4 and 5.

For the hosts, the tournament presents an opportunity to compete before passionate home supporters, while visiting teams can experience Punjab’s distinctive sporting atmosphere, its hockey legacy and the warmth of its people.

The tournament will see all six teams playing each other once, with the top four teams at the end of the league stage qualifying for the semi-finals. Defending champions India will open their campaign against Bangladesh on October 27 in Jalandhar.

Photo Credit: Asian Hockey Federation.