International hockey returns to Punjab as red-hot India prepare to defend their crown at the men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026, which gets underway in Jalandhar on October 27. The Craig Fulton-coached side enters the tournament as firm favourites following their successful gold medal defence at the Asian Games, aiming to capture a record sixth continental title in front of passionate local supporters.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The prestigious ninth edition of the tournament features six powerhouse teams competing in a single round-robin format. Alongside hosts India, the competition includes Japan, China, Malaysia, South Korea, and Bangladesh. Every team plays the other five sides once during the league stage at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar before the tournament shifts to Mohali for the knockout rounds.
- India will begin their title defence against Bangladesh on October 27, with matches against China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea following.
- The top four teams at the conclusion of the round-robin stage will advance to the semi-finals scheduled for November 4.
- The bronze-medal and gold-medal matches will take place on November 5 at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali.
- Hockey India has announced free entry for spectators across both venues throughout the duration of the tournament.
Squad Updates and Captain’s Outlook
India will be captained by penalty-corner specialist Harmanpreet Singh, who guided the team to consecutive gold medals. However, the hosts suffered a significant blow ahead of the opening match when star playmaker and former captain Manpreet Singh was ruled out due to a calf injury, with Vivek Sagar Prasad stepping into the squad as his replacement. Despite the setback, the squad remains focused on maintaining high standards against formidable continental opponents like Malaysia and South Korea.
“Every team is here to compete and win the tournament,” captain Harmanpreet Singh noted ahead of the opener. “All the teams are strong, and we do not want to take any opponent lightly. Everyone has come here to give their best, and we will approach every match with the same mindset.”
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