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They are also the most successful side in the tournament’s history, having won the title five times — in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023 and 2024. After the opening match, India will face China on October 29, Japan on October 30, Malaysia on November 1 and Korea on November 2. The defending champions have retained the core of the squad that won gold at the Asian Games, with a few changes.
India are the highest-ranked team in the competition, sitting eighth in the world rankings. Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak has replaced Mohith HS. Young defender Amandeep Lakra and midfielder Aditya Lalage have also been given opportunities to prove themselves at the international level. India will start against Bangladesh, who replaced Pakistan after the latter withdrew from the tournament, citing security reasons.
International hockey is returning to Punjab after a gap of 17 years, giving several Indian players a chance to play in front of their families and home fans. The last international hockey tournament held in the state was the Gold Cup in 2009. It has produced 14 Olympians and around 300 other national and international players. The quartet wanted to continue playing, but Hockey India’s top brass has decided that the team needs a smooth transition as preparations begin for the 2028 Olympics. Malaysia vs China — 1pm Japan vs South Korea — 3.15pm India vs Bangladesh — 7pm Goalkeepers: Suraj Karkera, Krishan Bahadur Pathak Defenders: Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amandeep Lakra Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad Forwards: Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.
The ACT could therefore provide an opportunity to assess younger players while allowing the senior members to make one final contribution.
There’s nothing like playing a tournament in India, and we’ve missed it,” he said. The five-time champions will face Bangladesh in their opening match, looking to build on their gold-medal-winning performance at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The tournament is special for another reason. Punjab has played a major role in Indian hockey for decades. More than half of the current Indian team comes from the state, which has produced several leading players over the years. India captain Harmanpreet Singh , Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Hardik Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh will get the opportunity to play in their home state in front of family and friends. For Harmanpreet, having his family in the stands is expected to make the occasion even more special. The tournament will also bring back memories of some of India’s greatest hockey players, including Balbir Singh Senior, Udham Singh Kular, Prithipal Singh, Ajit Pal Singh, Surjit Singh Randhawa and Pargat Singh. Sansarpur village in Jalandhar is often called the ‘Mecca of Indian hockey’. India chief coach Craig Fulton is also looking forward to the team’s return to Punjab. “…we can’t wait to feed off the home crowd. However, India will be without experienced midfielder Manpreet Singh, who suffered a calf injury during a training session. Vivek Sagar Prasad has replaced him in the squad. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines India secured their place at the Los Angeles Games by winning gold at the Asian Games. Download the TOI app.
India will begin their campaign as favourites when the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) gets underway in Punjab on Tuesday.
The semifinals and final will be held in Mohali on November 4 and 5. India beat Malaysia 5-1 in the Asian Games final, but the upcoming tournament will provide another test for Harmanpreet and his teammates. Japan gave India a tough fight in their recent Asian Games meeting before losing 0-2.
The top four teams in the league stage will qualify for the semifinals. With Pakistan absent, Malaysia are expected to pose the biggest challenge to India. The two sides have had tough battles in the past, and India cannot afford to take the Malaysians lightly. India will need to remain focused throughout the competition if they want to add another ACT title to their record. The tournament could also mark the end of the international careers of four experienced Indian players — Mandeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas and Nilakanta Sharma. All four were part of India’s medal-winning teams at the Olympics and Asian Games. It is reliably learnt that the ACT could be their final assignment for the country.
Korea have struggled to maintain their earlier standing in international hockey, but Japan remain capable of upsetting stronger teams.