04/08/2026
43rd Surjit Hockey Tournament in in November due to Asian Hockey
*Winning team to get ₹6.00 lakh,
*14 top teams of the country to participate
Jalandhar, August 4 ( ): In view of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy-2026, the renowned 43rd Surjit Hockey Tournament will be organized this year in the second week of November instead of October. This decision was taken unanimously today in an executive body meeting held under the chairmanship of Varjeet Singh Walia, IAS, Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar who is also the President of Surjit Hockey Society.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the society Iqbal Singh Sandhu said that Hockey India had earlier allotted the dates of October 3 to 10, 2026 for the tournament. However, keeping in view the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy being organized by the Punjab Government at Surjit Hockey Stadium from October 25, it was decided to hold the tournament in November. He added that, as per tradition, the tournament will be held at the Surjit Hockey Stadium, Burlton Park, Jalandhar, which will be fully ready by then.
Sandhu informed that NRI Amolak Singh Gakhal (Gakhal Group, USA), who has been sponsoring the cash prize for the winning team for the past two decades, has agreed to increase the prize money from ₹5.50 lakh to ₹6.00 lakh this year. Along with this, the popular scheme for hockey fans “Watch Surjit Hockey – Win an Alto Car” will also continue this year as before.
He further said that Indian Oil, which has been the title sponsor of the tournament for the last 35 years, will continue as the title sponsor this year as well, and a delegation of the society will soon meet Indian Oil officials in this regard.
Working President of the society L.R. Nayar said that 14 top teams of the country will participate in the tournament. These include defending champions Indian Oil, Mumbai, runners-up Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai, Punjab Police, Jalandhar, Indian Railways, Indian Navy, RCF, Kapurthala, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, BSF, Indian Army, CRPF, Indian Air Force, CAG, and ONGC.
On this occasion, Working President Lakhwinder Pal Singh Khaira said that during the final match of the tournament, the living players of the 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medal-winning Indian hockey team will be specially honored. In addition, Expressions of Interest (EOI) will be invited from television channels for live telecast of the semi-final and final matches.
The meeting was also attended by Ram Pratap (Senior Vice President), Surinder Singh Bhapa (General Secretary), Narinder Pal Singh Judge (Vice President), and Karandeep Singh.
Photo Caption:
Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner & Surjit Hockey Society President Sh. Varjeet Singh Walia, IAS, along with Iqbal Singh Sandhu (CEO), Working President L.R. Nayyar & Lakhwinder Pal Singh Khaira, Ram Pratap (Senior Vice President), Surinder Singh Bhapa (General Secretary), Narinder Pal Singh Judge (Vice President), and Karandeep Singh, releasing the hockey stick for the Surjit Hockey Tournament.