Current Affairs - State - Discussion

Punjab will host the Men's Asian Champions Trophy from October 27 to November 5, 2026, marking the return of international hockey to the state after a gap of 17 years. The previous international hockey tournament held in Punjab was the 2009 Punjab Gold Cup. The matches will take place at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. Six teams—India, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Japan, and Bangladesh—will participate in the tournament. India enters the competition as a strong contender, having won the Asian Champions Trophy five times in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2024.