17-year wait ends: Asian Champions Trophy brings overseas hockey again to Punjab after lengthy hole

International hockey will return to Punjab after 17 years when India host the boys’s Asian Champions Trophy for the second time, with Jalandhar and Mohali set to stage the event from October 27 to November 2.The final overseas hockey event held within the state was the 2009 Punjab Gold Cup.Hockey has a particular place in Punjab, which has performed a significant position in shaping Indian hockey by way of its villages, academies and generations of gamers who’ve represented the nation on the highest stage.The upcoming event will characteristic six groups — hosts India, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Japan and Bangladesh — competing for the title.India, the reigning Asian Games champions, are probably the most profitable group within the event’s historical past, having received the title 5 instances in 2011, 2016, 2018 (joint winners), 2023 and 2024.Punjab’s contribution to Indian hockey spans generations, from former greats Udham Singh and Balbir Singh Sr to present gamers Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh.India captain Harmanpreet, who led the group to gold medals at two successive Asian Games, mentioned the event could be particular for the gamers from Punjab, who will get the chance to characterize the nation on residence soil.“It’s going to be a special day for the whole group, particularly for the gamers who belong to Punjab as a result of it is the primary time that we are going to be carrying India jersey at an overseas event in Punjab,” Harmanpreet Singh, the primary captain to steer India to successive Asian Games gold medal triumphs, mentioned in a Hockey India launch.“My whole household is anticipated to be on the stadium watching me play an overseas match collectively from the venue for the primary time, together with my father who has by no means seen me play for the nation whereas sitting contained in the stadium.”The Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium at Burlton Park in Jalandhar will host the opening ceremony and league-stage matches from October 27 to November 2. The stadium is known as after Surjit Singh, the celebrated defender who was a part of India’s 1975 World Cup-winning group.The event will then transfer to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, which is able to host the semifinals and medal matches on November 4 and 5.All six groups will face one another as soon as within the league stage, with the highest 4 advancing to the semifinals.Defending champions India will start their marketing campaign towards Bangladesh in Jalandhar on October 27.