India will begin its defense of the men’s Hero Asian Champions Trophy against Bangladesh on October 27 in Jalandhar, as Punjab hosts the six-team tournament through November 5.
The competition brings a major international hockey event to a state with a long association with the sport. Jalandhar will host the league stage, while the semifinals and medal matches will be played in Mohali.
India, Japan, China, Malaysia, South Korea, and Bangladesh will compete in a single round-robin format, with each team playing the other five once. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals.
For Punjab, the tournament adds another chapter to a hockey tradition that extends back more than a century. The sport took root in India during British rule, including in cantonment towns such as Jalandhar, Bhopal, Meerut, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Jhansi.
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A traditional game known as khudo-kundi was also played in parts of northeastern and northern India. It used wooden sticks and a ball made from scraps of cloth held together with rubber bands. “Khudo” referred to the ball, while “kunda” or “kundi” referred to the stick.
Hockey retained a strong following in and around major cantonments even after India’s dominance on the international stage began to decline. Jalandhar has remained closely associated with the sport and with teams including Punjab Police, the Border Security Force, EME, ASC, the Corps of Signals, Punjab & Sind Bank, and Punjab National Bank.
The city also hosts an international invitational tournament named in memory of Olympian Surjit Singh. Punjab has produced generations of players who have represented India at the highest levels.
India seeks a third consecutive title
India enters the tournament after successfully defending its Asian Games gold medal in Japan. Coached by Craig Fulton and captained by Harmanpreet Singh, the team will seek to extend its record of five Asian Champions Trophy titles.
India won the tournament in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2024. It shared the 2018 title with Pakistan. In the 2024 final in Hulunbuir, China, Jugraj Singh scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over the host nation.
Before the tournament, India lost former captain and midfielder Manpreet Singh to a calf injury. Fellow midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad replaced him in the squad.
“Every team is here to compete and win the tournament. All the teams are strong, and we do not want to take any opponent lightly. Everyone has come here to give their best,” Harmanpreet said.
“We have gained a lot of experience and matured as a team. We will approach every match with the same mindset and give every opponent the respect they deserve.”
Malaysia arrives after finishing runner-up to India at the Asian Games. The two teams are scheduled to meet in the league stage on November 1. South Korea, which finished fourth at the Asian Games, will also compete for a place in the semifinals.
Japan, a two-time Asian Champions Trophy runner-up, finished fifth at the Asian Games. Bangladesh will open its campaign against India after the teams also met at the Asian Games.
Schedule and venues
All league matches will be played at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2. The tournament will then move to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali for the semifinals on November 4 and the bronze- and gold-medal matches on November 5.
After facing Bangladesh, India will play China on October 29, Japan on October 30, Malaysia on November 1, and South Korea on November 2.
India’s opening match against Bangladesh is scheduled to begin at 7:20 p.m. India Standard Time, following the opening ceremony. Its remaining league matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. IST.
The opening ceremony will feature the traditional Punjabi dances bhangra and giddha, along with performances of gatka, a Sikh martial art. A musical performance and laser show are also planned.
Hockey India has announced free admission for spectators at both venues.
