Indian Hockey Team Prepares for Asian Champions Trophy Amid Pakistan's Withdrawal
Suraj Karkera Discusses Upcoming Asian Champions Trophy
In New Delhi, Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper Suraj Karkera expressed that the absence of a match against traditional rivals Pakistan will be felt during the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Punjab 2026. Despite this, he emphasized that the Indian team is committed to delivering their best performance.
Pakistan has withdrawn from the six-team tournament, which is set to take place from October 27 to November 5 at two venues in Punjab: the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president, Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani, indicated last month that their participation was contingent on government approval, as reported by a local news outlet.
The rivalry between India and Pakistan in hockey is intense. In their last 20 encounters since 2016, India has emerged victorious in 18, with Pakistan yet to secure a win, while two matches ended in draws. Their latest clash was in the semifinal of the 2026 Asian Games, where India triumphed 4-3.
Suraj made these comments during a felicitation event where General Dhiraj Seth, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), honored Indian Army athletes who competed in the 2026 Asian Games.
He noted that while athletes prefer not to withdraw from competitions, such decisions are often beyond their control. Suraj acknowledged that fans would miss the excitement of the India-Pakistan rivalry but reiterated the team's focus on performing at their best.
"They are a strong team, and athletes never wish to withdraw from tournaments, but these decisions are out of our hands. We aim to perform to the best of our abilities, and the outcome will follow. The India-Pakistan dynamic will be missed by many, but it is beyond our influence," he stated.
With Bangladesh stepping in for Pakistan, the Asian Champions Trophy will now include reigning champions India, along with Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China, and Bangladesh. Fresh from defending their Asian Games gold medal in Japan, India, a five-time ACT champion, will enter the tournament as the top-ranked team, eager to maintain their impressive track record.
Recently, the Indian men's hockey team secured the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, defeating Malaysia 5-1 in the final. This victory marked India's fifth gold in men's hockey, following wins in 1966, 1998, 2014, and 2022, and it was the first time both the men's and women's teams won gold in the same edition.
Karkera, who is also a Subedar in the Indian Army, expressed that the recognition and awards from the Chief of Army Staff serve as a significant motivation for the team, inspiring them to strive for even greater achievements.
"Receiving commendations from the Chief of Army Staff is incredibly motivating. It inspires us to perform even better in the future," he remarked.
Looking ahead to the LA 2028 Olympics, Karkera mentioned that the team plans to address their mistakes, elevate their performance standards, and commence training soon, all while aiming to defend their title at the Asian Champions Trophy on home soil.
"We have clear goals. We will analyze our past mistakes to ensure we do not repeat them, aiming to reach new heights in hockey. Since this is our home ground for the Asian Champions Trophy, we are determined to win again as defending champions. We will also begin our training camp shortly," he concluded.