ACT is special for me as my entire family will watch me play

New Delhi: The upcoming Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab is going to be a “special occasion” for Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh as his entire family will physically watch him play an international match for the first time in his career. The tournament will bring international hockey back to Punjab after 17 years. India is hosting the tournament for the second time.

The 2009 Punjab Gold Cup was the last international hockey tournament held in the state. The tournament will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5. “It’s going to be a special occasion for the entire team, especially for the players who belong to Punjab because it’s the first time that we will be wearing the India jersey at an international tournament in Punjab,” Harmanpreet, the first player to captain India to two consecutive Asian Games gold medal victories, said in a Hockey India . “My entire family is expected to be at the stadium watching me play an international match together from the venue for the first time, including my father who has never seen me play for the country while sitting inside the stadium.” Besides hosts India, the other participating teams in the tournament are Malaysia, South Korea, China, Japan and Bangladesh. India is the most successful team in the tournament, having won the title five times -- in 2011, 2016, 2018 (as joint winners), 2023 and 2024.

For Punjab, hockey is more than a sport. It is a source of immense pride and an integral part of the state’s cultural identity. From its villages and academies to the international arena, Punjab has played a defining role in shaping Indian hockey. Punjab’s contribution to the national team is reflected in generations of players who have represented the country at the highest level, from Udham Singh and Balbir Singh Sr. to the current generation of Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh.

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