“Every team is here to win”: India hockey skipper Harmanpreet forward of Asian Champions Trophy

New Delhi [India],October 26 (ANI): International hockey will return to Punjab as red-hot India put together to defend their title on the males’s Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) 2026, which begins in Jalandhar on October 27. 

India shall be joined by Japan, China, Malaysia, South Korea and Bangladesh within the six-team continental event, in line with Hockey India launch.

With the showpiece being held in Punjab, the Indian staff may have the chance to play earlier than supporters in a state that has contributed generations of gamers to Indian hockey.

The hosts enter the event after efficiently defending their Asian Games gold medal in Japan. The Craig Fulton-coached staff will look to hold that momentum into the continental event and add to their file haul of ACT titles.

The Indian staff shall be led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, who guided the facet to consecutive Asian Games gold medals for the primary time.

India have received the Asian Champions Trophy 5 instances – in 2011, 2016, 2018 (joint winners with Pakistan), 2023 and 2024. Their most up-to-date triumph got here in Hulunbuir, China, the place Jugraj Singh scored the decisive purpose in a 1-0 win over the hosts within the last. India will now look to make it three consecutive titles, having additionally received the competitors in Chennai in 2023 – when the boys’s Asian Champions Trophy was held in India for the primary time.

India suffered a setback earlier than the beginning of the event when former captain and star playmaker Manpreet Singh was dominated out resulting from a calf damage. He has been changed by fellow midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad. 

“Every team is here to compete and win the tournament. All the teams are strong, and we do not want to take any opponent lightly. Everyone has come here to give their best,” stated India captain Harmanpreet, as quoted by the discharge.

“We have gained a lot of experience and matured as a team. We will approach every match with the same mindset and give every opponent the respect they deserve.”

Malaysia have arrived in Punjab after ending as runners-up to India on the Asian Games. The Malaysians shall be among the many groups trying to problem the hosts, and their league-stage assembly with India is scheduled for November 1. South Korea, an everyday contender in Asian hockey, will even look to make a powerful impression after ending fourth on the Asian Games.

Two-time runners-up Japan completed fifth on the Asian Games and can need to make a constructive impression on this event. Bangladesh, in the meantime, will open their ACT marketing campaign in opposition to India and hope so as to add to their learnings from their assembly on the Asian Games. 

The 2026 occasion is the ninth version of the Asian Champions Trophy. The six taking part groups will compete in a single round-robin format, with every staff enjoying the opposite 5 sides as soon as. The prime 4 groups on the finish of the league stage will qualify for the semi-finals. 

All league-stage matches shall be performed on the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2. The event will then transfer to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, which can host the semi-finals on November 4, adopted by the bronze-medal and gold-medal matches on November 5.

India will open their marketing campaign in opposition to Bangladesh on October 27, earlier than dealing with China on October 29, Japan on October 30, Malaysia on November 1 and South Korea on November 2. Except for the opener in opposition to Bangladesh, all of India’s league matches are scheduled to start at 1900 IST. The match in opposition to Bangladesh will start at 1920 IST, with a glittering opening ceremony scheduled earlier than the sport.

Traditional Punjab dance types Bhangra and Gidha shall be showcased throughout the opening ceremony that will even embody performances by exponents of Gatka — the Sikh martial artwork. One of the first points of interest shall be a musical efficiency, together with a laser present. 

Hockey India has already introduced free entry for spectators at each the venues of the Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026.

The event holds particular significance for Punjab, which is extensively thought to be one of many conventional centres of Indian hockey. The state has produced generations of gamers who’ve represented the nation on the highest degree, with Jalandhar particularly carefully related to the game. 

For India, the fast precedence shall be to complete the house season on a excessive with one other profitable title defence. (ANI)