Big Sports Leagues: Asian Champions Trophy, Hockey World Cup 2030 bid & Sher-e-Punjab T20 Cricket League

Updated: Yesterday

Last Updated: 08 Nov 2026

Punjab in the race to host the Hockey World Cup 2030 (men's and women's), with Odisha and Tamil Nadu^[1]
-- CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab is ready to host it^[2]
-- Mann sought the hosting rights from Hockey India^[3]

Saudebaaz politicians failed Punjab^[2:1]^[1:1]

Punjab has hosted no major international hockey event, despite 77 Olympians and 48 Olympic medallists
-- Odisha hosted the men's World Cup twice
-- Tamil Nadu had the 2025 Junior World Cup

Big leagues & tournaments came to Punjab to take youth towards sports & away from drugs

1. Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026^[4]^[5]

Punjab hosted the Asian Champions Trophy for the 1st time: 27 Oct – 5 Nov 2026
-- League matches in Jalandhar; semi-finals & final in Mohali
-- Inaugurated by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann at Jalandhar on 26 Oct 2026^[2:2]
-- India vs Pakistan on 1 November (Punjab Day) in Jalandhar
-- Free entry for all matches

6 Asian hockey nations took part
Punjab Govt committed ₹25.40 crore for organising the tournament

2. Sher-e-Punjab T20 Cricket League^[6]^[7]^[8]

Inaugural two-week league held, organised by the Punjab Cricket Association on the IPL model^[7:1]
-- 6 district teams, with India stars as captains: Shubman Gill (Fazilka Falcons), Arshdeep Singh (Ludhiana Lions), Abhishek Sharma (Amritsar Soormas), Prabhsimran Singh (Jalandhar Warriors), Ramandeep Singh (Mohali Kings) and Gurnoor Brar (Bathinda Royals)
-- 119 players took part
-- Final at IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali: Amritsar Soormas beat Ludhiana Lions by 8 wickets^[8:1]

Approved in Feb 2026 with district & regional teams, in tie-up with BCCI & Punjab Cricket Association^[6:1]
To find & groom young talent for national/international cricket
CM Mann said 21 Punjab players are in the IPL, and IPL talent scouts and selectors attended the matches^[7:2]
Part of a wider plan for district & state leagues in multiple sports

3. Bid for the Hockey World Cup 2030^[1:2]

Punjab, Odisha and Tamil Nadu are the frontrunners to host the 2030 FIH men's and women's Hockey World Cups, said Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh^[1:3]

CM Mann said Punjab is ready to host the Hockey World Cup in 2030^[2:3]
Mann sought the hosting rights from Hockey India at Jalandhar^[3:1]
No final decision on the venue has been taken yet^[3:2]

Why Punjab: hockey record^[2:4]

77 Olympians from Punjab, from the 1928 Amsterdam Games to the 2024 Paris Games
48 of them won Olympic medals
Punjabi players captained India at the Olympics 10 times

Never hosted at this scale^[1:4]

Last international hockey event in Punjab before this year was the 2009 Gold Cup
The Asian Champions Trophy 2026 is Punjab's first international hockey tournament in 17 years
Odisha has hosted the men's World Cup twice
Tamil Nadu hosted the men's Junior World Cup in 2025

4. Punjab Junior Hockey League 2025^[9]

First junior hockey league in India, as described at the final
Inaugurated in Mohali; finals played at the Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar
Exhibition match: Legend XI led by Gagan Ajit Singh vs Star XI led by Harmanpreet Singh

References: