Jalandhar, October 25: Preparations for the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2026 reached full readiness following a extensive stadium overhaul completed over four months at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium. During a joint press conference held at the venue, Hockey Punjab President Nitin Kohli, Director Sports Abhijeet Kaplish, Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia, and Police Commissioner Satinder Singh confirmed that all operational arrangements, security setups, and spectator amenities are fully operational under direction from Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The international tournament begins on October 27, featuring six elite Asian squads including host nation India. To encourage broad public attendance, state officials confirmed free spectator admission across all fixtures.
Fans may reserve digital QR-code passes by registering through the Ticketgenie website or mobile application. The opening match day starts at 1:00 PM, followed by an official opening ceremony at 5:00 PM and India’s opening match against Bangladesh scheduled for 7:20 PM.
Organizers advised spectators attending the opening ceremony to arrive by 4:00 PM, while regular matchgoers should arrive 30 to 60 minutes before scheduled start times. Matches will also be broadcast live on Star Sports and streamed via JioHotstar.
Traffic management strategies have been deployed to ensure uninterrupted movement around the venue.
Police Commissioner Satinder Singh noted that designated access for spectators has been routed from the DAV College flyover side lane via HMV College Chowk, leading directly to the Bultan Park entrance and designated parking areas. The venue complex also incorporates public food courts, interactive fan zones, and carnival displays throughout the tournament grounds.
