Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab is set to script a historic milestone in Indian sports as the state prepares to host the prestigious Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time ever in October 2026. Reviewing the initial preparations during a high-level meeting with office-bearers from Hockey India, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that the state government will extend complete administrative, financial, and logistical support to deliver a world-class international event. The Chief Minister emphasized that hosting a continental tournament of this scale will solidify Punjab’s enduring legacy as the traditional cradle of Indian hockey and inspire a massive resurgence of sports participation among regional youth.
The high-stakes tournament is scheduled to commence shortly after the conclusion of the Asian Games in early October, bringing together the top six performing men’s hockey teams from across Asia. Chief Minister Mann revealed that matches will be played across two of the state’s most iconic sports grounds: the Balbir Singh Senior Hockey Stadium and the Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar. To accommodate international athletes, technical delegates, and global spectators, the state administration is deploying a comprehensive security apparatus and upgrading transit infrastructure surrounding the venues. Furthermore, the Chief Minister announced that international sports body approvals have also been secured for a subsequent Four-Nation Invitational Tournament to be held in Punjab, providing a dual boost to the state’s sporting landscape.
Expressing institutional pride over the development, Chief Minister Mann noted that despite Punjab historically producing some of the greatest Olympic hockey icons for the country, previous regimes had failed to secure a major international hockey tournament for the state. Taking to social media platform X, Mann reiterated that his administration is fully committed to delivering flawless security, premium player facilities, and grand organizational arrangements. He called upon all citizens, sports academies, and administrative departments to work collectively to revive the state’s rich athletic heritage, utilizing the global tournament as a major catalyst to rebuild a vibrant and drug-free “Rangla Punjab” through the medium of sports.
