Chandigarh, September 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has invited Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and a delegation of the Punjab Government to Japan to witness the semi-finals and finals of the Women’s and Men’s Hockey competitions at the XX Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
The invitation, extended by AHF President Fumio Ogura, comes as Punjab prepares to host the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 for the first time.
The Women’s and Men’s Hockey semi-finals are scheduled for September 30 and October 1, followed by the finals on October 2 and 3.
The AHF has said the visit would provide the Punjab Government delegation with first-hand experience of the organisation and conduct of a major international sporting event. The experience could subsequently be utilised for preparations for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy and similar major sporting events in Punjab.
Punjab is scheduled to host the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 from October 27 to November 5. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Jalandhar and Mohali, with Jalandhar hosting the opening ceremony and league-stage matches, while Mohali will host the semi-finals and final.
The tournament will mark the first time Punjab hosts the prestigious international hockey competition.
The state government has described the event as an opportunity to bring international hockey back to Punjab, a region with a deep-rooted hockey tradition and a history of producing Indian hockey players.
The upcoming tournament will feature India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, China and other teams competing in Punjab.
The AHF has highlighted the potential value of the Punjab delegation’s exposure to the arrangements at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as the state prepares to host the continental tournament.
The invitation also comes as Punjab seeks to combine its established hockey culture with the infrastructure, organisation and international standards required to host a major international sporting event.
The Asian Hockey Federation has requested confirmation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s delegation and its details to facilitate the necessary arrangements for the visit.
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