Jalandhar’s Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium is set for a major upgrade ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026, with the Punjab government allocating ₹14 crore for the venue.
The tournament is being hosted in Punjab for the first time and will bring international hockey action to Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2 and the league-stage matches and opening ceremony will be held at the Surjit Hockey Stadium, while the semi-finals and final will take place in Mohali.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that a total of ₹25.40 crore has been sanctioned for the organisation of the tournament, and of this amount, ₹22.96 crore is being spent on upgrading the two main venues. Jalandhar’s Surjit Hockey Stadium will receive ₹14 crore, while ₹8.96 crore has been allocated for the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali.
The tournament will feature six teams, including India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and China. Oman and Bangladesh will remain the reserve teams.
For Jalandhar, one of the biggest attractions will be the India-Pakistan match scheduled for November 1 at 7 PM and the match will also be played on Punjab Day, making it a major sporting event for hockey fans in the region.
The Punjab government has also announced that spectators will not need tickets to watch any of the tournament matches. Entry will be free, with the government aiming to encourage students, young athletes, hockey academies and sports lovers to attend the games.
According to the Chief Minister, the ₹14 crore investment in the Jalandhar stadium is part of the preparations to provide international-level facilities for players and spectators during the tournament.
Jalandhar will host the opening ceremony and league stage from October 27 to November 2 and the tournament will then move to Mohali, where the semi-finals will be played on November 4 and the final and closing ceremony on November 5.
The hosting of the tournament also places Jalandhar in the spotlight as one of Punjab’s major hockey centres. The city has a strong connection with the sport and is home to the Surjit Hockey Stadium, named after Olympian hockey player Surjit Singh.
With international teams arriving for the tournament and the India-Pakistan clash scheduled in the city, the ₹14 crore stadium upgrade is expected to be a key part of Jalandhar’s preparations for the championship and the Punjab government has sanctioned ₹25.40 crore overall for the tournament and has said that the entire government machinery will be involved in making the event successful.
