Pakistan confirmed for Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Punjab

Pakistan has been confirmed as one of six nations participating in the Asian Champions Trophy, set to take place from October 27 to November 5 across venues in Jalandhar and Mohali. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the participation on Monday, stating that multilateral tournaments fall within established protocols governing sports exchanges between the two countries.

The tournament will also feature China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea, with Oman and Bangladesh named as reserve nations in case of any withdrawals. The competition is held under the auspices of the Asian Hockey Federation and returns after being absent from the calendar last year.

India approaches the event as defending champions, having won the title in consecutive editions—in 2023 in Chennai and in 2024 in Hulunbuir, China. The tournament represents a significant international hockey competition on the subcontinent.

Mann clarified that while bilateral series between India and Pakistan remain subject to separate considerations, multilateral sporting events operate under different parameters. "There is no problem in multi-national tournaments," the Chief Minister said, indicating that the government's framework permits such participation when multiple nations are involved rather than direct India-Pakistan engagements.