Asian Champions Trophy Day 1: Malaysia v China First, Then Japan v Korea, Then India v Bangladesh Under Lights
It’s finally here. After weeks of build-up, the Asian Champions Trophy starts today in Jalandhar, and the opening day gives you three games and a ceremony to go with them.
Malaysia v China opens the tournament at 12:30pm PKT. That’s the early one, and it’s a proper test for both sides. Malaysia arrive as Asian Games silver medallists, the team that pushed India hardest in the region over the last cycle. China are the side nobody quite knows how to read yet in this field, which makes them dangerous in a first game. Nobody wants to start a round-robin with a loss, and both teams know the top four go through to the semis in Mohali.
Then it’s Japan v South Korea at 2:45pm PKT. Two-time ACT runners-up Japan against a Korea side that’s been a regular contender in Asian hockey and finished fourth at the Asian Games. This one could easily be the best hockey of the day. Japan play fast and brave. Korea are organised and hard to break down. If either side wins it, they’ve got a real head start on the semi-final race.
The evening belongs to the hosts. The opening ceremony runs from 5:00pm to 6:00pm PKT, with Bhangra and Gidha, a Gatka martial-arts display and a laser show, and then India walk out against Bangladesh at 6:50pm PKT.
India are defending champions and they’re chasing a sixth ACT title. Captain Harmanpreet Singh said it plainly on the eve of the tournament: every team is here to win, nobody gets taken lightly, and India will approach every match the same way.
They’ll have to do it without Manpreet Singh. The former captain is out with a calf injury, and Vivek Sagar Prasad has come in as his replacement. That’s a big loss of experience in midfield, but it’s also a chance for Vivek to make this tournament his own.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, get the hardest possible start, and they know it. They’ve come to this tournament to learn and to compete, and there’s no better measuring stick in Asia right now than India at home in Punjab. Gerhard Rach’s side named their final 18 earlier this week. Now they find out where they stand.
One timing note worth pinning down. India’s opener is the only league game that doesn’t start at the usual time. The 6:50pm PKT start (7:20pm IST) is because of the ceremony before it. India’s other league games, against China on 29 October, Japan on 30 October, Malaysia on 1 November and South Korea on 2 November, all start at 6:30pm PKT. Entry is free at both venues, in Jalandhar for the league stage and in Mohali for the semis on 4 November and the medal games on 5 November.
For our money, India should win the night game. But the day’s real story might be decided before dark. Win your opener in a six-team round-robin and the whole tournament opens up for you. Lose it, and you’re chasing from day one.
Related links:
https://sportscursor.com/asian-champions-trophy-eve-harmanpreet-every-team-here-to-win-26-october-2026/
https://sportscursor.com/manpreet-singh-ruled-out-asian-champions-trophy-vivek-sagar-prasad-26-october-2026/
https://sportscursor.com/bangladesh-final-18-asian-champions-trophy-2026-gerhard-rach-squad/
https://sportscursor.com/asian-champions-trophy-2026-opening-day-card-india-bangladesh-26-october-2026/
https://sportscursor.com/live/
