Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said the state is fully prepared to host the Hockey World Cup in 2030, citing its hockey legacy, recently completed astroturf grounds and a sports budget of Rs 1,744 crore. The announcement came after Punjab hosted the Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026, which concluded with India retaining the title in Mohali.
Mann and Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria congratulated the people of the state on the organisation of the international tournament. India defeated Japan 4-1 in the final at the Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, according to the report.
Mann said the successful hosting of the Asian Champions Trophy demonstrated Punjab’s growing ability to organise major international sporting events. He described the tournament as the first time Punjab had hosted the competition and called it a stepping stone towards larger global events.
The chief minister linked the state’s proposed 2030 hosting readiness to its long association with hockey and its contribution to India’s Olympic history. He said Punjab had produced 77 hockey Olympians from the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics through the 2024 Paris Olympics, while 48 players from the state had won Olympic medals.
The state’s infrastructure expansion includes six new hockey astroturf grounds that Mann said had already been constructed during the government’s tenure. Work on two additional grounds is underway. The government has also established 18 six-a-side astroturf hockey grounds, which Mann said were intended to promote the sport at the grassroots level.
The infrastructure programme is backed by Rs 1,744 crore earmarked exclusively for sports, according to the chief minister. The announcement did not provide a detailed venue list, project-wise cost breakdown, construction schedule or an operational plan for a 2030 Hockey World Cup.
Mann said Punjab’s relationship with hockey was reflected in the contribution of players including Balbir Singh Senior, Udham Singh, Prithipal Singh, Ajit Pal Singh and Surjit Singh, as well as contemporary players such as Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh.
The proposed event would build on the state’s existing sports facilities and its recent experience of hosting an international tournament. However, the statement focused on Punjab’s preparedness and infrastructure progress rather than confirming the formal hosting decision, venue allocation or tournament delivery framework for the 2030 World Cup.
The next milestones will depend on the development of the two astroturf grounds currently under construction, the use of the existing facilities and any formal process concerning the 2030 Hockey World Cup. The state has not, in the supplied announcement, specified the venues or detailed timeline for hosting the tournament.
