~ The city rich in hockey heritage will host league-stage matches of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium from October 27 to November 2
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 17.10.2026) :: Few cities in India share as enduring a relationship with hockey as Jalandhar. From villages that have produced generations of Olympians to a thriving sports goods manufacturing industry, the city’s connection with sport runs deep. As Punjab prepares to host the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2026 from October 27 to November 5, Jalandhar is set to welcome some of Asia’s leading hockey nations, bringing international hockey back to a region that has played a defining role in Indian hockey’s journey.
The Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium at Burlton Park will serve as one of the two venues for the prestigious continental tournament, hosting all league-stage matches from October 27 to November 2. The other venue will be the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali that will host the semi-finals and the medal matches on November 4 and 5.
With a seating capacity of approximately 7,000 spectators, the stadium in Jalandhar has witnessed several important hockey tournaments over the years and remains closely connected to the city’s sporting identity.
Named after Surjit Singh, a member of India’s 1975 World Cup-winning team, the stadium honours a distinguished figure in the country’s hockey history. Its legacy is further strengthened by the work of the Surjit Hockey Society, established in 1984, which has consistently contributed to the development of the sport through the Surjit Hockey Academy and the annual Surjit Memorial Hockey Tournament.
Beyond the stadium, Jalandhar’s hockey story is inseparable from the villages surrounding it.
Sansarpur, on the outskirts of the city, is etched in hockey history for producing numerous Olympians who represented India and Kenya across different editions of the Olympic Games. Nearby Mithapur has also made a significant contribution to Indian hockey, producing iconic players like Pargat Singh and current internationals Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh, among other notable players.
The Surjit Hockey Academy continues this tradition by providing aspiring players with access to structured training and development opportunities once they move out of their villages. As many as six players from the ACT 2026 squad – Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Krishan Pathak, Dilpreet Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh – are products of the Surjit Hockey Academy.
The city’s sporting credentials extend beyond the playing field. Jalandhar is one of India’s major sports goods manufacturing centres, with an industry that began on a small scale in the late 1940s and expanded significantly over subsequent decades. Today, its manufacturers supply sports equipment to markets across the country and export products to several international destinations. This longstanding association with sports manufacturing complements the city’s contribution to developing athletes and strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem.
The Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 will bring these different dimensions of Jalandhar together, offering residents an opportunity to watch top-level international hockey in a city where the sport is woven into everyday life. With Asia’s leading teams competing at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, the tournament promises to be a celebration of the city’s sporting heritage and its continuing place in Indian hockey.
For Jalandhar, the occasion is more than the hosting of an international tournament. It is an opportunity to reconnect a new generation of fans with the game that has shaped the city’s identity for decades.
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