• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed Pakistan’s participation on Monday.
  2. The Asian Champions Trophy will be held from October 27 to November 5.
  3. India will enter the tournament as defending champions,

Pakistan will be among the six teams competing in the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India next month, despite the political tensions between the two countries.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed Pakistan’s participation on Monday, pointing towards the Union Government’s policy that allows India and Pakistan to compete against each other in multi-national sporting events.

The Asian Champions Trophy will be held from October 27 to November 5, with India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia and Korea set to participate.

The league-stage matches will be played in Jalandhar, while the semi-finals and final will take place at the hockey stadium in Mohali.

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‘There Is No Problem In Multi-National Tournaments’

Mann was asked about Pakistan’s participation and whether the necessary clearances had been obtained for the team to play in India.

“There is no problem in multi-national tournaments. Maybe individual series (India and Pakistan) cannot take place,” Mann said.

The Indian government’s sports policy does not allow bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan following heightened tensions between the two countries.

However, India has maintained that the two nations can compete against each other in multi-lateral events in accordance with the Olympic Charter.

Pakistan had previously withdrawn from the Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu last year, citing tensions between the two countries following Operation Sindoor.

Hockey India Official Highlights India-Pakistan Relations

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh, who was also present at the event, said relations between the hockey federations of the two countries remain strong.

“I want to say this on record that we share very good relations between the hockey federations of India and Pakistan,” Singh said.

He also recalled his interactions with the Pakistani team after India-Pakistan matches.

“You must have noticed that whenever I go, if the Indian team defeats Pakistan, I meet the Pakistani team first. The boys (players) there also show immense respect,” he added.

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Asian Champions Trophy 2026 Schedule

India will enter the tournament as defending champions, having won the previous two editions in 2023 and 2024. Oman and Bangladesh have been named as reserve teams in case of withdrawals.

The tournament will begin in Jalandhar on October 27, with the final scheduled to be played in Mohali on November 5.

Punjab CM Mann also assured full support for hosting the tournament, which will be the first edition of the competition to be held in the state.

With PTI inputs.


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