FIVE-TIME champions, who are coming in as Asian Games gold medallists, India would be over whelming favourites to claim the silver ware when the six-nation Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament kicks off here on Tuesday with the hosts taking on Bangladesh in their lung-opener. The tournament marks hockey’s return to Punjab after 17 long years. The state has been the nerve-centre of Indian hockey for several decades and even now, more than half the team hails from here. However, the last time an international hockey tournament was held in what is often described as the spiritual home of the sport was the Gold Cup in 2009.

 

But the wait is finally over for the likes of India captain Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Hardik Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh. They will finally get an opportunity to play in front of family and friends in their home state. Harmanpreet has already stated that it would bean emotional high for him to have his family in the stands. Manpreet Singh, however, will miss out after a calf injury sustained during atraining session ruled him out. He has been replaced by fellow play maker Vivek Sagar Prasad. The tournament is also expected to trigger a wave of nostalgia. Punjab has, after all, produced legends like Balbir Singh Senior, Udham Singh Kular, Prithipal Singh, Ajit Pal Singh, Surjit Singh Randhawa and Pargat Singh among others.