CHANDIGARH, MAY 30 — Punjab is establishing specialized committees and structural upgrades to host the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday setting a strict September deadline for all preparation works.
Chairing a high-level coordination meeting, the Chief Minister directed administrative departments to ensure world-class facilities and flawless logistical execution for the international tournament. To streamline the process, Mann authorized the creation of a dedicated organizing panel composed of sports experts, veteran athletes, and regulatory stakeholders, alongside a high-powered monitoring committee tasked with tracking progress across the primary venues in Jalandhar and Mohali.
“An organising committee comprising experts, players and other stakeholders should be constituted for time-bound execution of all arrangements,” Mann stated. He noted that completing the required infrastructure upgrades well ahead of schedule remains necessary to ensure a smooth administrative and competitive experience during the elite six-nation event.
The tournament marks the first time that a major global hockey championship will be staged within the state, despite its long history of producing prominent players for national teams. The Chief Minister stated that modernizing the designated facilities according to international sports federations’ criteria will significantly enhance the state’s athletic infrastructure.
“Punjab has always been the nursery of hockey, and hosting such an international tournament on our soil will further inspire our youth to connect with sports fields,” Mann stated, adding that the administration will provide full logistical, security, and residential arrangements for all visiting international teams.
The planning session included high-level state administrators, notably Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Principal Secretary to CM Dr. Ravi Bhagat, and Punjab Hockey President Nitin Kohli. Mann concluded that securing the hosting rights for the championship serves as a key milestone in restoring the state’s traditional sporting prestige and building a robust grass-roots sports culture for the future.
