Jalandhar: Punjab has opened a new chapter in its rich hockey history by hosting the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab-2026 for the first time, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann inaugurating the prestigious international tournament at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Mann said the championship was a proud moment for the state and fulfilled the long-standing aspiration of Punjab’s hockey players to compete on home soil in a major international tournament.

Welcoming the participating teams and honouring the captains of all six sides, the Chief Minister said Punjab was working to reclaim its historic standing in world hockey by strengthening sports infrastructure, expanding grassroots participation and providing specialised training to emerging talent. He also expressed confidence that the state would be ready to host the Hockey World Cup in 2030.

The tournament features teams from India, Bangladesh, China, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. All league-stage matches will be played at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, while the semifinals and final will take place at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali.

Punjab’s historic contribution to Indian hockey

Addressing the gathering, Mann described the championship as recognition of Punjab’s exceptional contribution to Indian hockey. He said the state’s association with the sport was built on generations of dedication, sacrifice, discipline and sporting excellence.

“Punjab and hockey share an inseparable bond,” the Chief Minister said, emphasising that the state’s contribution extends far beyond producing individual players. He noted that Punjab has earned international recognition not only for its agricultural strength and contribution to India’s food security but also for producing Olympians, world champions and sporting icons who have brought distinction to the national flag.

Referring to the state’s Olympic legacy, Mann said Punjab had contributed 77 hockey Olympians between the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 48 of them winning Olympic medals. He also highlighted that players from Punjab had captained India’s Olympic hockey team on 10 occasions.

The Chief Minister paid tribute to legendary players, including Balbir Singh Senior, Udham Singh, Prithipal Singh, Ajit Pal Singh, Surjit Singh and Pargat Singh, saying their achievements continued to inspire younger generations.

He recalled Balbir Singh Senior’s remarkable performance in the final of the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, where the legendary forward scored five goals, and highlighted Udham Singh’s achievement of competing in four Olympic Games and winning medals.

Mann also referred to India’s consecutive bronze medals in men’s hockey at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the Paris Olympics in 2024, describing the results as an important revival of the country’s Olympic hockey fortunes. He said Punjab’s strong representation in both teams demonstrated the state’s continuing importance to Indian hockey. According to him, eight players from Punjab are part of the current Indian men’s team led by Harmanpreet Singh.

He also recalled Punjab’s contribution to India’s 1975 men’s Hockey World Cup triumph under captain Ajit Pal Singh, as well as the junior men’s World Cup victories in 2001, led by Gagan Ajit Singh, and 2016, captained by Harjeet Singh.

Jalandhar’s villages and sporting legacy

Highlighting Jalandhar’s importance as a centre of hockey talent, Mann said the city and its surrounding villages had produced generations of Olympians and international players.

He specifically mentioned Sansarpur, Khusropur and Mithapur, villages recognised for their contribution to Indian hockey. More than 20 Olympians have emerged from these villages, he said, adding that hockey in these communities had become a tradition passed from one generation to the next.

The Chief Minister said the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium held a special emotional significance for Punjab. Named after Surjit Singh, a member of India’s victorious 1975 World Cup team, the stadium symbolised the state’s sporting achievements, sacrifices and aspirations.

A statue of Olympian Surjit Singh has also been installed at the stadium as part of the championship-related arrangements, honouring the player’s contribution to Indian hockey.

The stadium houses a Punjab Institute of Sports centre and a Khelo India centre, which are helping develop future hockey talent. Mann said 102 hockey players were currently receiving training at the Punjab Institute of Sports centre, while another 33 were training at the Khelo India centre.

New infrastructure and grassroots sports development

Reiterating the state government’s commitment to sports, Mann said six new astro-turf hockey grounds had been established during his government’s tenure, while work on two additional grounds was under way. Punjab had also developed 18 six-a-side astro-turf hockey grounds to encourage participation at the grassroots level.

He described the Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan initiative as an important platform for encouraging sporting participation across age groups. More than six lakh players had registered for its fourth season, he said.

Under the Mukh Mantri Khed Maidan initiative, more than 3,000 sports grounds were being developed across the state. The Punjab State Institute of Sports has 14 Centres of Excellence, where 1,870 athletes are receiving specialised training, according to the Chief Minister.

Mann also cited the state’s sports policy, introduced in 2023, and a dedicated sports budget of ₹1,744 crore as evidence of the government’s stated commitment to improving infrastructure and supporting athletes preparing for major national and international competitions.

He said investment in training facilities, sporting opportunities and specialised coaching was intended to help young players compete successfully at higher levels.

Punjab sets its sights on the 2030 Hockey World Cup

The Chief Minister said hosting the Asian Champions Trophy would provide an opportunity to demonstrate Punjab’s ability to organise international sporting events and strengthen its claim to host the Hockey World Cup in 2030.

He described the championship as a platform to showcase the state’s sporting facilities, hospitality and cultural heritage to visiting teams, officials and spectators.

Mann also pointed to the potential economic benefits of hosting major competitions, including opportunities for sports tourism, hospitality businesses, the sports equipment industry and local enterprises. Such events, he said, could generate employment and create new avenues for young people.

Welcoming the international contingent, he expressed hope that players and visitors would return home with positive memories of Punjab’s people, villages, culture and traditional cuisine.

He added that sporting events could bring people together across geographical, linguistic and cultural boundaries by promoting mutual respect, discipline and friendship. The championship, he said, should inspire young spectators to take up hockey and other sports.

The Chief Minister congratulated the participating teams and acknowledged the efforts of organisers, officials, volunteers, security personnel and others working behind the scenes to ensure the tournament’s smooth conduct.

“Punjab is proud to welcome the hockey world to its historic land,” Mann said, describing the championship as a celebration of the state’s hockey heritage and an opportunity to motivate a new generation of players.

Dignitaries attend opening ceremony

Before the inauguration, Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli and Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries.

Those present included Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat; MLAs Balkar Singh and Ishaan Chabbewal; Principal Secretary, Sports, Varun Roojam; Sports Director Abhijeet Kaplish; Jalandhar Mayor Vineet Dhir; Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli; Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath; and Tourism Adviser Deepak Bali, among other dignitaries.

With league matches scheduled in Jalandhar and the knockout stage set for Mohali, the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab-2026 brings international hockey to two of the state’s major sporting centres. For Punjab, the tournament is both a celebration of its historic contribution to the sport and an opportunity to demonstrate its readiness for larger international events in the years ahead.