Pakistan to Compete in Men’s Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament in India
Pakistan is set to participate in the upcoming Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, which will take place next month in Mohali, as confirmed by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. This follows the central government’s policy that permits India and Pakistan to play against each other during multilateral sporting events.
Scheduled from October 27 to November 5, the tournament will also include teams from China, Japan, Malaysia, and Korea. Matches are set to be hosted at the hockey stadiums in Jalandhar and Mohali. Two reserve teams, Oman and Bangladesh, have been confirmed in case any of the primary teams withdraw from the competition. This annual tournament is organized by the Asian Hockey Federation, although it did not occur last year.
India will enter the tournament as the defending champions, having claimed the title in 2023 in Chennai and again in 2024 in Hulunbuir, China.
In response to inquiries about the participation of Pakistan and whether necessary approvals have been granted, Mann stated, “There is no problem in multinational tournaments. Individual series between India and Pakistan may face challenges but not this event.”
While India’s central sports policy restricts bilateral engagements with Pakistan—especially in light of security concerns following recent events—it allows for competition in multilateral tournaments. The Sports Ministry has emphasized that athletes from Pakistan can compete in India for such events.
It is worth noting that Pakistan has previously withdrawn from the Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu last year due to heightened tensions following military operations.
Mann also mentioned that the league matches for the Asian Champions Trophy will be held in Jalandhar, while the semi-finals and finals will take place in Mohali. He assured that Punjab is fully committed to hosting this significant event, marking the first time such a tournament will be held in the state.
Building Bridges Through Hockey
Hockey India’s secretary general Bhola Nath Singh underscored the positive relationship between the hockey federations of both countries. “I can say that our relationship is very good,” Singh stated. He added, “Whenever our teams meet, I make it a point to congratulate the Pakistani team if they play well. The respect shared among players is commendable.”
The tournament is set to kick off on October 27 in Jalandhar, with the final match scheduled for November 5 in Mohali.
