Punjab ₹25 Crore Stadium Upgrade: The government of Punjab has invested heavily in developing hockey infrastructure before hosting Men’s Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2026. About ₹25 crores have been allotted for developing the stadiums for the tournament and for making other arrangements for the event. It is worth mentioning that six Asian hockey teams will visit Jalandhar and Mohali for the championship on October 27 to November 5.
The renovations will not only help in getting both the stadiums ready for the international level but also provide various facilities to players, officials, and audiences. Moreover, the tournament provides a chance to Punjab to enhance its status as one of the top places in India for hockey.
The preparations for the continental championship are going on as Punjab is preparing for it in its final stages.
What Does the Government Plan?
There are two famous hockey stadiums in Punjab, the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali.
Recently published reports stated that ₹25 crores have been spent on the stadium renovations and tournament preparations. The amount is reported differently in different sources; according to some reports, ₹16 crores for Jalandhar and approximately ₹8.90 crore for Mohali.
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Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2026: Dates and Venues
The Hero Men’s Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 will be held from October 27 to November 5.
Jalandhar will host the league stage, while Mohali will stage the decisive knockout matches.
- League matches, Jalandhar: October 27–November 2
- Semi-finals, Mohali: November 4
- Third-place match and final, Mohali: November 5
The participating nations will include India, Bangladesh, Japan, China, Malaysia, and South Korea. All six teams will play against each other in a single round-robin tournament, with the top four advancing into the semi-finals.
India will start its run in the tournament with a match against Bangladesh on October 27, then face China on October 29, Japan on October 30, Malaysia on November 1, and South Korea on November 2.
The tournament schedule has been released by Hockey India and the Asian Hockey Federation.
Free Admission for Fans: How to Claim Your Passes
To attract more fans to the stadiums, Hockey India has declared free admission for spectators at both stadiums during the tournament.
But remember to apply for digital admission passes and not expect walk-in entry. Spectators can register through the official ticketing platform:
Website: https://ticketgenie.in/Event/Mens-Asian-Champions-Trophy-2026
After registering, people are able to pick their matches and get a digital ticket, including a QR code for entrance.
This initiative is supposed to increase access of international hockey to families, students, and young hockey players from Punjab.
What Comes Next?
Since the first matches are to take place on October 27, the focus has shifted towards the preparations at the two stadiums and arrangements necessary for teams and spectators.
The challenge at hand is going to be meeting all of the above criteria through the venue improvements.
