Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will not travel to Japan for the Asian Games hockey semi-final after the Centre declined political clearance for his proposed visit, with security concerns cited as the reason.
Mann was scheduled to leave for Japan on Wednesday ahead of the Indian men’s hockey team’s semi-final on October 1. He had been invited by the Asian Hockey Federation to attend the concluding stages of the hockey competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The invitation covered the semi-finals on September 30 and October 1, followed by the finals on October 2 and 3.
A Punjab government official said the Centre had conveyed that ensuring the security of a visiting chief minister at a major international sporting event would be difficult. Officials cited the challenges involved in managing VIP security during the Games.
Eight Punjab players in India’s squad
The proposed trip had added significance for Punjab as eight of the 20 players in India’s men’s hockey squad for the Asian Games are from the state.
Mann had planned to watch the team’s knockout-stage matches in Japan and support the players representing the country.
The proposed visit was also linked to Punjab’s preparations to host the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5.
The Asian Hockey Federation had suggested that Mann and members of the Punjab delegation could observe the arrangements for a major international hockey tournament in Japan. Such an opportunity could have helped officials with preparations for the upcoming tournament in Punjab.
Third proposed foreign trip denied clearance
The latest decision marks the third reported occasion on which political clearance has not been granted for a proposed foreign trip by Mann.
In August 2024, the Centre denied permission for Mann to travel to Paris to watch the Indian men’s hockey team compete at the Olympics. He had planned to visit the French capital from August 3 to 9. The decision triggered a political dispute between the Punjab government and the BJP-led Centre.
In January 2026, clearance was also not granted for a proposed visit by Mann to the United Kingdom and Israel. The trip was intended to promote Punjab as an investment destination ahead of the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit. Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora was also scheduled to accompany him, but the proposed tour was later cancelled.
Mann has, however, undertaken overseas visits for official engagements. In December 2025, he led a Punjab delegation to Japan and subsequently travelled to South Korea for investment-related programmes.
The latest decision means Mann will not be present in Japan for the Indian hockey team’s scheduled semi-final, while Punjab officials continue preparations for the state’s upcoming international hockey tournament.
