Hockey fever sweeps Jalandhar as families, Olympians turn up to cheer Asian Champions trophy
Over 70 young volunteers from Surjeet Hockey Academy help conduct tournament; eight Punjab players feature in Indian squad
Babushahi Bureau
Jalandhar (Punjab), October 30: Hockey fever has gripped Jalandhar as the city hosts the Asian Champions Trophy, drawing large crowds of hockey enthusiasts, families of Indian players and former Olympians to the Olympian Surjeet Hockey Stadium.
The tournament, being hosted in Punjab for the first time, has brought international hockey to the state, giving fans an opportunity to watch some of Asia's top teams compete on home ground. The presence of families of Indian players, particularly those from Punjab, has added an emotional touch to the sporting event.
Nitin Kohli, President of Hockey Punjab, said Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had given hockey lovers a major opportunity by bringing an international tournament of this scale to Punjab.
"For the first time in Punjab's history, a tournament of this magnitude is being held, allowing fans to watch Asia's best teams play before their eyes. This is a historic moment for the sport in our state," Kohli said.
He added that Punjab had also staked its claim to host the 2030 Hockey World Cup. Bhola Nath, Secretary General of Hockey India, also praised the state's hockey infrastructure, describing it as being of international standards.
The Indian squad has eight players from Punjab, including captain Harmanpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Mandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak. Their families have been regularly attending the matches to support them.
Harmanpreet's parents, Sarbjit Singh and Rajvinder Kaur, his wife Amandeep Kaur, her parents and their daughters Ruhani and Mehr have been among those present in the stands. In a special moment, his four-month-old daughter Mehr visited the hockey field for the first time and was held by her father after the match.
Hardik Singh's father, Varinder Singh, also watched the matches while performing his duties as part of the Chief Minister's security detail during the opening game. His mother Onia Rai and younger brother, who recently won the Junior Asia Cup with the Indian team, were also present.
Other family members cheering for the Indian players included Mandeep Singh's father Ravinder Singh and Davinderjit Kaur; Sukhjeet Singh's parents Ajit Singh and Kuldip Kaur; Jarmanpreet Singh's parents Balbir Singh and Kulwinder Kaur; and Dilpreet Singh's parents Balwinder Singh and Sukhwant Kaur.
The tournament has also attracted several hockey legends. Three-time Olympian and former Indian captain Baljit Singh Dhillon described the event as a good omen for Punjab hockey, saying it would inspire the next generation of players.
Olympians Harpreet Singh Mander and Gurbaz Singh, both holding senior positions in Punjab Police, were also spotted watching the matches. Moscow Olympics gold medallist Surinder Singh Sodhi met players on the third day, while Olympians Gurjant Singh and Gurwinder Singh Chandi presented the Man of the Match awards.
Adding to the tournament's energy is a team of more than 70 young volunteers from the Surjeet Hockey Academy. The young players are assisting with various arrangements, including working as ball boys and carrying national flags during team line-ups.
Interestingly, several members of the current Indian squad, including Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Hardik Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh and Krishan Pathak, once played at the same stadium as academy players.
The Asian Champions Trophy features six teams — India, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, China and Bangladesh. League matches are being held at Olympian Surjeet Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2, while the semi-finals and final are scheduled to take place in Mohali on November 4 and 5.