New Delhi, 16 October (H.S.): Few cities in India share a bond with hockey as deep-rooted and enduring as Jalandhar. For generations, its villages have produced Olympians who have represented India on the international stage. Punjab is set to host the Hero Asian Champions Trophy from October 27 to November 5, with Jalandhar welcoming teams from some of Asia’s leading hockey nations. The tournament marks the return of international hockey to a region that has played a significant role in the development of Indian hockey.

The Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, located at Burlton Park, will be one of the two venues for the prestigious tournament. It will host all league-stage matches from October 27 to November 2. The second venue, the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, will stage the semi-finals and medal matches on November 4 and 5. With a seating capacity of approximately 7,000, the Jalandhar stadium has hosted several important hockey tournaments over the years and remains deeply connected to the city’s sporting identity.

Named after Surjit Singh, a member of India’s 1975 World Cup-winning team, the stadium honours one of the notable figures in the country’s hockey history. Established in 1984, the Surjit Hockey Society has further strengthened this legacy. Through the Surjit Hockey Academy and the annual Surjit Memorial Hockey Tournament, the society continues to contribute to the development and promotion of the sport.

Jalandhar’s hockey story extends well beyond its stadiums, with the surrounding villages playing an equally important role in shaping the region’s sporting heritage. Situated on the outskirts of the city, Sansarpur occupies a distinguished place in hockey history, having produced several Olympians who represented India and Kenya at different editions of the Olympic Games. Nearby Mithapur has also made a significant contribution to Indian hockey. It is the home village of celebrated former player Pargat Singh and prominent current internationals, including Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh.

The Surjit Hockey Academy continues this proud tradition by providing aspiring players from surrounding villages with structured training and opportunities for development. Six members of the Indian squad for the 2026 Asian Champions Trophy—Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Krishan Pathak, Dilpreet Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh—are products of the academy.

Beyond its sporting grounds, Jalandhar has another distinctive identity: it is one of India’s major centres for sports-goods manufacturing. The industry began on a relatively small scale in the late 1940s before expanding considerably over subsequent decades. Today, manufacturers based in the city supply sporting goods to markets across India and export their products to numerous international destinations. This longstanding association with sports manufacturing further underscores Jalandhar’s contribution to athlete development and the strengthening of India’s sporting ecosystem.

The Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 will bring these different facets of Jalandhar together. The tournament will give local residents an opportunity to witness high-level international hockey in their own city, as some of Asia’s strongest teams compete at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium. It is expected to celebrate the city’s rich sporting heritage and its continuing importance to Indian hockey.

For Jalandhar, hosting the tournament means far more than staging an international sporting event. It offers an opportunity to reconnect a new generation of fans with a sport that has shaped the city’s identity for decades.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar