The 9th Hero Hockey Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 commenced in Jalandhar, bringing premier continental competition back to Punjab with host India facing Bangladesh in its opening match at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium.
Hockey action returned to its cradle on Tuesday as the continental tournament began this afternoon at Jalandhar’s Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium. Six leading hockey nations, including host India, Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea, and Bangladesh, are participating in the week-long competition, marking the first major continental hockey tournament organized in Punjab.
Two Olympian Venues Host Six Nations
The tournament unfolds across two newly renovated venues in the state. Group stage matches run through November 2 at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, featuring three matches daily under floodlights and during the day. The action then shifts to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali for the semi-finals and the final scheduled from November 4 to 5. Entry to both venues is free for spectators.
Harmanpreet Singh Leads India Into the Single Round-Robin Schedule
The ninth edition of the Asian Champions Trophy follows a single round-robin format where each of the six sides plays the other five once. The top four teams at the conclusion of the league stage advance to the semi-finals. India enters as the five-time tournament champion, having claimed titles in 2011, 2016, 2018 (joint winners with Pakistan), 2023, and 2024 in Hulunbuir, China, where Jugraj Singh scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory against the hosts in the final.
Col (retd) Balbir Singh Kular, a 1968 Mexico Olympics bronze medallist from nearby Sansarpur village, recalled playing against the Netherlands at Police Lines in Jalandhar back in 1967 and was invited as a guest to the opening ceremony. Brigadier (retd) Harcharan Singh, a 1975 Hockey World Cup winner who scored the winner in the final against Pakistan, also participated during the trophy tour in Gurdaspur. Harcharan previously served on the organising committee during Pakistan’s 2006 tour to India when drag-flicker Sohail Abbas broke Dutch legend Paul Litjens’s world record of 267 goals in Amritsar.
| Date (2026) | Match Details | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| October 27 | India vs. Bangladesh (Opening Match) | Jalandhar |
| October 29 | India vs. China | Jalandhar |
| October 30 | India vs. Japan | Jalandhar |
| November 1 | India vs. Malaysia | Jalandhar |
| November 2 | India vs. South Korea | Jalandhar |
| November 4–5 | Semi-finals and Final | Mohali |
Balbir Singh Kular and Veterans Reflect on Punjab Heritage
Col (retd) Balbir Singh Kular, a 1968 Mexico Olympics bronze medallist from nearby Sansarpur village, noted the tournament.
During my time, I did not get many chances to play in Punjab as an India player. But this week, me and my former teammates like Jugraj and Prabhjot Singh have been sharing Asian Champions Trophy pictures with young kids in our WhatsApp groups.
Broadcast coverage of the tournament includes live commentary on Akashvani’s all-Inder Dhanush channels and Jalandhar’s Primary Channel for India matches, semi-finals, and the final. With opening-day fixtures pairing Malaysia against China and Japan against South Korea alongside the evening clash between India and Bangladesh, the tournament establishes its footing across both host cities ahead of the November 5 summit clash.
More on Asian Champions Trophy
Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 kicks off today 🏑Team India takes on Team Bangladesh tonight 💪 https://t.co/0LYzvqp7PI
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