Pakistan to play in Asian Champions Trophy hockey in India: Punjab CM Mann

Pakistan will participate in next month's Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Monday, citing the Centre's policy permitting India and Pakistan to compete against each other in multilateral sporting events.

The tournament, to be held from October 27 to November 5, will feature six teams -- defending champions India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia and Korea -- with matches scheduled at hockey stadiums in Jalandhar and Mohali.

Two reserve teams, Oman and Bangladesh, have also been named in case any of the participating sides pull out.

"There is no problem in multi-national tournaments. Maybe individual series (between India and Pakistan) cannot take place," Mann said when asked about Pakistan's participation and whether the necessary clearances had been obtained.

The Centre's sports policy bars bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan following heightened tensions between the two countries. However, in line with the Olympic Charter, the Sports Ministry has maintained that the two countries can compete in multilateral events and that Indian authorities would not prevent Pakistani athletes from participating in such competitions in India.

Pakistan had, however, withdrawn from the Junior World Cup hockey tournament in Tamil Nadu last year, citing heightened tensions following India's Operation Sindoor.

Mann said the league-stage matches of the Asian Champions Trophy would be played in Jalandhar, while the semi-finals and final would be held at the Mohali stadium.

The chief minister assured the organisers of the Punjab government's full support, saying the state was committed to successfully hosting the tournament, which will be held there for the first time.

Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, who was present at the event, said the hockey federations of India and Pakistan share "excellent" relations despite the rivalry between the two countries.

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

Singh said he made it a point to meet the Pakistani players whenever India defeated Pakistan, adding that the players also showed him immense respect.

Mann said Pakistan's participation would add to the sporting appeal of the championship, particularly with the India-Pakistan league match scheduled for November 1 in Jalandhar.

The match will coincide with Punjab Day and is expected to be one of the tournament's biggest attractions.

"India and Pakistan may have their rivalries on the hockey field, but sport has its own language," Mann said.

"For hockey lovers, the India-Pakistan match is not about hatred. It is about the passion of hockey, the roar of the spectators and the beauty of sport," he added.

Mann said the Punjab government had committed Rs 25.40 crore for organising the championship and announced that entry to all matches would be free.

"Punjab's people have given hockey its heart, so when international hockey returns to Punjab, the people must be able to watch it without any financial barrier," he said.

The Asian Champions Trophy will begin in Jalandhar on October 27, with the final scheduled in Mohali on November 5.

India are the defending champions, having won the title in 2023 in Chennai and 2024 in Hulunbuir, China. The annual tournament was not held last year.