Jalandhar, one of India’s most celebrated hockey centres, is preparing to welcome Asia’s leading men’s hockey teams as Punjab hosts the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2026 from October 27 to November 5. The tournament will bring international hockey back to a state that has produced generations of Olympians, World Cup winners and prominent Indian hockey players.

The city’s Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium will host the opening ceremony and all league-stage matches from October 27 to November 2. The competition will then move to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali for the semi-finals and medal matches on November 4 and 5.

Beyond the tournament itself, the event is an opportunity to celebrate Punjab’s deep-rooted hockey culture, its legendary players, grassroots academies and longstanding contribution to Indian sport.

Jalandhar holds a special place in Indian hockey history. Its stadiums, sporting institutions and surrounding villages have helped nurture players who have represented India at major international competitions.

The Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, situated at Burlton Park, is one of the city’s most prominent sporting venues. With a seating capacity of approximately 7,000 spectators, the stadium has hosted important hockey competitions over the years and remains closely connected to Jalandhar’s sporting identity.

The venue is named after Surjit Singh, a member of India’s victorious 1975 Men’s Hockey World Cup team. His legacy reflects the achievements of generations of players who helped establish India as a major force in international hockey.

The return of a major continental tournament gives local fans an opportunity to watch elite hockey on home ground and reconnect younger audiences with a sport deeply associated with Punjab’s cultural and sporting traditions.

Punjab’s contribution to hockey extends far beyond major stadiums. Villages surrounding Jalandhar have played an important role in developing players who have represented India and other countries at the Olympic Games and international tournaments.

Sansarpur is widely recognised for producing numerous hockey Olympians, including players who represented India and Kenya. Its history demonstrates how village-level sporting traditions have helped shape international hockey careers.

Nearby Mithapur has also made a significant contribution to Indian hockey. It is associated with celebrated former captain Pargat Singh and current Indian internationals Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh.

These communities reflect the importance of local coaching, family support, grassroots participation and access to sporting facilities in developing high-level athletes.

Their legacy also highlights why hosting international hockey in Jalandhar carries significance beyond the competition: the tournament brings the sport back to a region that has helped shape India's hockey identity.

The Surjit Hockey Society, established in 1984, has contributed to the development of hockey through its academy and the annual Surjit Memorial Hockey Tournament.

The Surjit Hockey Academy provides aspiring players with structured training and development opportunities, helping young athletes progress from local hockey environments towards higher levels of competition.

Its contribution is reflected in the Indian squad selected for the 2026 Asian Champions Trophy. Six members of the team—Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Krishan Pathak, Dilpreet Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh—are products of the academy.

Their presence illustrates the continuing connection between grassroots hockey programmes in Punjab and India's national team.

For young players, the tournament can offer inspiration by bringing established international athletes to familiar sporting surroundings and showcasing the standards required to compete at the highest level.

Jalandhar’s relationship with sport is not limited to producing athletes. The city is also one of India's major centres for sports-goods manufacturing.

The industry began on a relatively small scale in the late 1940s and expanded over subsequent decades. Today, manufacturers in the city supply sports equipment to markets across India and export products internationally.

This manufacturing base complements the region’s sporting culture, connecting equipment production, athlete development and organised competition.

The Hero Asian Champions Trophy provides an opportunity to highlight these different aspects of Jalandhar’s contribution to sport, from its hockey-playing communities and training academies to the businesses supporting sporting activity.

The Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 will feature six teams: hosts India, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Japan and Bangladesh.

India enter the competition as defending champions and the most successful team in the tournament’s history, having secured five titles. The home crowd is expected to provide a significant atmosphere as the Indian side takes on its Asian rivals.

Jalandhar will host the opening ceremony and league-stage fixtures from October 27 to November 2. The tournament will then move to Mohali, where the semi-finals will take place on November 4, followed by the bronze-medal and gold-medal matches on November 5.

The two-venue format places Jalandhar’s historic hockey setting at the centre of the opening phase, before the decisive matches conclude in Mohali.

The return of international hockey to Punjab represents a meaningful occasion for players, supporters and the wider sporting community.

For local fans, the tournament offers the chance to watch some of Asia’s strongest teams compete in a region where hockey has been passed down through generations. For aspiring athletes, it provides an opportunity to see elite competition up close and draw inspiration from players who have progressed through grassroots academies.

The event also places a spotlight on Punjab’s role in Indian hockey, recognising the contribution of its villages, coaching institutions, sporting venues and manufacturing industry.

As Jalandhar prepares to welcome the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2026, the city will do more than host an international tournament. It will celebrate a sporting legacy that continues to influence Indian hockey and inspire the next generation of players.

With league-stage action beginning on October 27, attention will turn to the pitch as India and five other Asian nations compete for continental honours in Punjab.