Pakistan to play hockey tournament in India despite tensions

Pakistan will compete in the 2026 Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India, marking a rare multilateral sporting engagement between the rivals amid ongoing political tensions. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed the participation on Monday, citing the Indian government's policy that allows the two nations to compete in multinational events despite a ban on bilateral engagements. The tournament is scheduled from October 27 to November 5 and will be hosted in the Punjab cities of Jalandhar and Mohali. League-stage matches will take place in Jalandhar, while the semifinals and final will be held at the Mohali stadium. The event, organized under the Asian Hockey Federation, will feature India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea, with Oman and Bangladesh named as reserve teams in case of withdrawals. India enters the competition as the defending champion, having won the title in 2023 in Chennai and 2024 in Hulunbuir, China. The tournament was not held in 2025. The high-profile India-Pakistan match is scheduled for November 1 in Jalandhar, coinciding with Punjab Day.