Asian Champions Trophy faces fresh tension as Hockey India has firmly rejected any idea of shifting the venue for Pakistan’s matches. The tournament is set to take place in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5, and Indian officials made it clear that the locations will stay unchanged.
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, who also serves as vice-president of the Asian Hockey Federation, stated that Pakistan must travel to India if it wants to take part. He confirmed that no neutral venue will be arranged. According to him, reserve teams such as Bangladesh and Oman stand ready if Pakistan decides to pull out.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation had approached the Asian Hockey Federation requesting either a complete shift of the event outside India or neutral grounds for its matches. The request was based on security concerns linked to the current bilateral situation. Interim PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani explained that the move aimed to provide a safe and comfortable environment for Pakistani players and officials. He also stressed that Pakistan remains willing to compete against India and every other FIH member nation, insisting that sport should stay free from politics.
Despite the request, Hockey India has stood firm. The league stage will be held in Jalandhar while the semi-finals and final are scheduled for Mohali. India and Pakistan are drawn to meet on November 1 in Jalandhar, a fixture that always draws massive attention. Both sides have a long and intense history in the sport, and this latest chapter adds another layer of drama.
Pakistan has publicly maintained that it still intends to participate in the continental event. However, the rejection of the neutral-venue demand has left its involvement uncertain. Fans across the region are watching closely to see whether the two traditional rivals will face each other on Indian soil or if a late withdrawal changes the tournament line-up.
The Asian Champions Trophy continues to hold its planned schedule, with India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea listed as the original participants. Whether Pakistan boards the flight to India or steps aside remains the key question in the coming weeks.
