Punjab To Host Asian Champions Trophy Hockey With Pakistan Participation

Pakistan will be among the six countries that would compete in next month's Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Monday, citing the union government's policy which allows the arch-foes to play on Indian soil during multi-lateral.

Two reserve teams -- Oman and Bangladesh -- have also been named for the tournament in case of pullouts. The event, which is held under the aegis of the Asian Hockey Federation, is an annual competition but was not held last year.

What Happened

There is no problem in multi-national tournaments. The central sports policy with regards to Pakistan bars any bilateral engagement with the country against which India launched a brief military offensive just last year after the Pahalgam terror attack killed 26 people.

• India enter the competition as defending champions, having won the title in 2023 (Chennai) and 2024 (Hulunbuir, China).

• Mann said the Punjab government has committed ₹25.40 crore for the successful organisation of the championship.

• The Asian Champions Trophy will commence on October 27 in Jalandhar and the final match will be held in Mohali on November 5.

Key Details

However, adhering to the Olympic Charter, the Sports Ministry has stated that the two countries can compete against each other in multi-lateral events and India would not stop athletes from across the border to play here for such engagements. Despite this, Pakistan.

• "Punjab's people have given hockey its heart, so when international hockey returns to Punjab, the people must be able to watch it without any financial barrier," the CM said.

• Mann also said that entry to all matches will be completely free.

• The match will coincide with Punjab Day, making the occasion even more special for the people of Punjab.

Why It Matters

Mann said league stage ACT matches will be played at Jalandhar, while the semi-final and the final will be played in Mohali stadium. Assuring full support for hosting the event, Mann said Punjab is committed to ensuring the successful organisation of the.

• Mann said the participation of Pakistan adds an enormous sporting dimension to the championship and will naturally attract hockey lovers from across the region and the country.

• Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, who was also in attendance at Monday's event, said the relationship between the hockey federations of India and Pakistan is "excellent".

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Rediff as more details emerge