India vs Pakistan: Grand hockey clash in Jalandhar, a special day for Punjabis worldwide

14‑September Jalandhar

Jalandhar: Punjab will host the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 for the first time. Nitin Kohli, President of Hockey Punjab and Vice‑President of Hockey India, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for bringing this prestigious international tournament to Punjab. Hosting this international hockey competition in Punjab is being regarded as a significant achievement in the state’s sporting history.

Nitin Kohli said that hosting such a large international tournament reflects the Chief Minister’s vision for sports, Punjab’s rich hockey heritage, and the ambition to make the state a leading sports hub in the country. He added that major sporting events will give Punjab’s young athletes the opportunity to see world‑class players up close and draw inspiration from them.

He remarked that the India‑Pakistan match will be an extremely emotional and special occasion for Punjabis of both countries. Kohli said that witnessing India and Pakistan face off in the hockey cradle of Jalandhar will be a memorable moment.

The tournament will commence on 27 October at the Olympic Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, while the final will be played on 5 November at the Olympic Balbir Singh Hockey Stadium in Mohali. Teams from India, Pakistan, Japan, Malaysia, China and Korea will participate.

Commenting on Jalandhar’s hosting of the matches, Nitin Kohli said that the city is intertwined with the soul of Indian hockey. He noted that Jalandhar has produced a large number of international and Olympic players for the country and also has a distinct reputation in sports equipment manufacturing.

Welcoming the decision to allow free spectator entry, he said that this will enable children, students, families and hockey enthusiasts to enjoy international hockey without any barriers. He expressed hope that the competition will inject new energy into Punjab’s hockey culture and ignite a passion among young players to dream big.

Kohli said he will provide all possible support to make the Hockey Punjab tournament a success and that this Champions Trophy will prove to be an important chapter in Punjab’s emerging sports identity.