Punjab hosts Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for first time, AAP calls it historic
Synopsis
Punjab is hosting the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time ever — with league matches in Jalandhar and knockouts in Mohali. The AAP government has pumped ₹25 crore into stadium upgrades and is offering free entry throughout, as it bets on the six-nation tournament to turbocharge the state's sporting culture.
Key Takeaways
Punjab is hosting the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time in the state's history.
League matches will be held in Jalandhar from 27 October to 2 November ; semi-finals, final and third-place match in Mohali on 4–5 November .
Six teams are participating: India, Bangladesh, Japan, China, Malaysia and South Korea .
The state government has allocated approximately ₹25 crore for stadium upgrades — ₹16 crore for Jalandhar and ₹8.90 crore for Mohali.
Entry to all matches will be completely free for spectators.
Under the 'Khed Kranti' scheme, cash awards worth ₹135 crore have been distributed to nearly 40,000 players .
Punjab is hosting the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time in its history, a development that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab leader and Mohali Mayor Sarabjit Singh described on Wednesday, 21 October 2026 as a historic achievement and a matter of immense pride for the state. Singh credited Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's personal efforts for securing the prestigious international tournament for Punjab.
Match Schedule and Venues
League matches will be played in Jalandhar from 27 October to 2 November, while the semi-finals, final, and third-place match are scheduled for Mohali on 4 and 5 November. Notably, entry to the stadiums will be completely free throughout the tournament, making it accessible to all fans across the state.
Six leading Asian nations are set to compete — India, Bangladesh, Japan, China, Malaysia, and South Korea — further elevating Punjab's standing on the international sporting map.
Infrastructure Investment
The Punjab state government has earmarked approximately ₹25 crore to upgrade sports stadiums to international standards ahead of the tournament. Of this, ₹16 crore is being directed towards renovating and upgrading facilities in Jalandhar, while around ₹8.90 crore has been allocated for stadium improvements in Mohali. According to Singh, this investment will significantly strengthen Punjab's sports infrastructure and create better training conditions for athletes.
Khed Kranti and Grassroots Sports Push
Addressing a press conference, Singh highlighted the achievements of the state government's 'Khed Kranti' initiative, launched under Chief Minister Mann's leadership. He said the AAP government had distributed cash awards worth approximately ₹135 crore to nearly 40,000 players under the scheme. He added that new stadiums were being constructed across Punjab to promote sports at the grassroots level, with around 32 stadiums currently under construction in Mohali alone.
Call for Public Participation
Singh appealed to people across Punjab to attend the matches in large numbers and extend encouragement to the participating teams. He also urged parents to support their children's participation in sports alongside academics. The Mayor emphasised that building a robust sporting culture was a shared responsibility of both the government and civil society.
With free entry, ongoing stadium upgrades, and six national teams converging on Punjab, the tournament represents the state's most ambitious bid yet to establish itself as a hub for international hockey.
Point of View
000 players) are notable but remain self-reported; independent verification of disbursement outcomes is absent from the public record. More substantively, free entry is a genuine public good, but sustaining international-standard venues beyond a single showcase event will require recurring maintenance budgets that Punjab — carrying a significant fiscal deficit — will need to plan for explicitly. The real test of this 'historic achievement' is whether the 32 stadiums under construction in Mohali alone are completed on schedule and used consistently, rather than becoming another infrastructure announcement that fades after the final whistle.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when will the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2026 matches be held in Punjab?
League matches will be played in Jalandhar from 27 October to 2 November, while the semi-finals, the third-place match, and the final are scheduled in Mohali on 4 and 5 November. Entry to all venues is free throughout the tournament.
Which teams are participating in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in Punjab?
Six Asian nations are competing: India, Bangladesh, Japan, China, Malaysia, and South Korea. The tournament marks the first time Punjab is hosting the prestigious continental hockey event.
How much has the Punjab government invested in stadium upgrades for the tournament?
The state government has earmarked approximately ₹25 crore for stadium upgrades — ₹16 crore for Jalandhar venues and around ₹8.90 crore for facilities in Mohali, both being brought up to international standards.
What is the 'Khed Kranti' initiative mentioned by the AAP government?
'Khed Kranti' is a sports promotion scheme launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's government in Punjab. Under the initiative, the AAP government has reportedly distributed cash awards worth approximately ₹135 crore to nearly 40,000 players to encourage grassroots sporting participation.
Is entry to the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy matches free?
Yes, Mohali Mayor Sarabjit Singh announced that entry to all stadium venues during the tournament will be completely free, with the stated aim of maximising public participation and fostering a sporting culture across Punjab.
