Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026: Nine-day trophy tour kicks off in Mohali
Synopsis
India's most successful team at the Asian Champions Trophy — five titles — will play on home soil from 27 October, but first the trophy itself is doing a nine-day tour of Punjab's hockey heartlands. The tour is a rare, community-first activation that ties the state's legendary hockey legacy directly to the ninth edition of the continental championship.
Key Takeaways
The Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 trophy tour began on 18 October at Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium, Mohali .
The nine-day tour covers Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ludhiana and Kapurthala , concluding in Jalandhar on 26 October .
League-stage matches will be held at Jalandhar from 27 October to 2 November ; semifinals and medal matches at Mohali on 4-5 November .
India are the tournament's most successful side with five titles , competing at home against Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China and Bangladesh .
This is the ninth edition of the Asian Champions Trophy , established in 2011 .
The Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 received a spirited pre-tournament boost on 18 October 2026 as a nine-day trophy tour was flagged off at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, building anticipation for the men's hockey tournament scheduled from 27 October to 5 November. The initiative marks one of the most visible public engagements ahead of a continental hockey championship in recent memory.
Trophy Tour Route and Schedule
The tour, which started at Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), will traverse several significant hockey heartlands across Punjab, covering cities and towns including Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ludhiana, and Kapurthala. It is set to conclude in Jalandhar on 26 October, just a day before the tournament commences. The journey is designed to give local communities, aspiring players, and supporters across the state a direct connection with the competition before Asia's leading hockey nations arrive.
Venues and Match Schedule
The league-stage matches will be held at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar from 27 October to 2 November. The tournament will then shift to Mohali, where the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium will host the semifinals and medal matches on 4 and 5 November. The dual-venue format ensures both cities share the spotlight of international hockey.
Punjab's Hockey Legacy at the Forefront
The trophy tour is also a deliberate celebration of Punjab's unmatched contribution to Indian hockey. The state has produced generations of players who have represented the country at the highest levels, and organisers have positioned this tour to reconnect that storied legacy with the current generation of fans and young players. Notably, bringing the trophy to grassroots communities before the tournament opens reflects a broader effort to deepen hockey's cultural footprint in its traditional stronghold.
India's Record and the Competition
This is the ninth edition of the Asian Champions Trophy, a tournament established in 2011 that has grown into a cornerstone of continental hockey. India enters as the most successful side in the event's history, having won the title five times. Competing on home soil, the hosts will look to extend that record against a competitive field comprising Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China, and Bangladesh in a six-team round-robin format. The tournament represents a significant opportunity for India to reaffirm its continental dominance with the backing of a passionate home crowd.
Point of View
But it also underscores a deeper truth: Punjab's emotional ownership of Indian hockey is something organisers cannot afford to take for granted. India enters as five-time champions on home turf, yet the real pressure is not just to win — it is to rekindle grassroots fervour for a sport that has fought for attention in a cricket-saturated media landscape. Whether the nine-city tour translates into packed stadiums in Jalandhar and Mohali will be a telling indicator of how effectively Hockey India can mobilise its most historically loyal fanbase.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 being held?
The Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 runs from 27 October to 5 November. League-stage matches are at Jalandhar's Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium (27 October–2 November), with semifinals and medal matches at Mohali's Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium on 4 and 5 November.
Which teams are competing in the Asian Champions Trophy 2026?
Six teams will compete: India (hosts), Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China, and Bangladesh. India enter as five-time champions and the most successful side in the tournament's history.
What is the Asian Champions Trophy trophy tour?
A nine-day public engagement initiative that began on 18 October in Mohali, taking the tournament trophy through Punjab cities including Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ludhiana, and Kapurthala before reaching Jalandhar on 26 October. It is designed to build excitement and connect local communities to the competition.
How many times has India won the Asian Champions Trophy?
India have won the Asian Champions Trophy five times, making them the most successful side in the tournament's history. They will be looking to add to that tally on home soil in 2026.
When was the Asian Champions Trophy first established?
The Asian Champions Trophy was established in 2011 and the 2026 edition in Punjab is its ninth instalment, cementing its place as a prominent fixture on the continental hockey calendar.
