Asian Champions Trophy 2026 Brings Emotional Homecoming for Surjit Hockey Academy Stalwarts

The Asian Champions Trophy 2026 will mark a special homecoming for six Indian hockey players who began their journeys at the Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar. As the tournament arrives in Punjab, seasoned stars Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Krishan Pathak are preparing to play an international tournament in the state where they developed their skills and nurtured dreams of representing India.

For Manpreet, who made his senior India debut in 2011, the occasion will fulfil a long-standing wish. Despite playing 430 matches and winning two Olympic medals and three Asian Games gold medals, he has never played an international match in front of home-state fans in Punjab.

“It is going to be an emotional moment,” Manpreet said, recalling how the academy taught the players not only hockey but also the confidence to dream big.

Dilpreet Singh, the youngest among the six at 26, said his career began in Jalandhar, where he played his first national championship before earning selection to the Indian team. His family is eagerly waiting to watch him play, with his parents even expressing interest in attending training sessions. His grandfather, a long jumper, and his father, a hockey player, inspired him to pursue sports.

For goalkeeper Krishan Pathak, the tournament carries additional significance as he returns to the Indian team after a nine-month gap. He thanked the Punjab government and Hockey India for making the international event possible, highlighting the importance of playing at the same ground where he trained for seven years.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh described the occasion as special, particularly because his family, including his father, will watch him play an international match at the stadium for the first time. Harmanpreet is the first Indian captain to lead the country to Asian Games gold medals in two consecutive editions.

Defender Jarmanpreet Singh also recalled spending two years at the academy while working towards his return to the national team. Midfielder Hardik Singh trained there for a couple of years before completing most of his development at the Mohali Hockey Academy.

India will open its campaign against Bangladesh on October 27 in Jalandhar. The league stage runs until November 2, before Mohali hosts the semi-finals and medal matches on November 4 and 5.

Malaysia, Japan, China, South Korea and Bangladesh are the other participating teams. India, with a record five titles, will enter the ninth edition seeking another triumph, while South Korea are the only other participating side to have won the trophy.