Women's Asian Hockey Champions Trophy from Nov 19 in Bhopal; Minister Sarang meets schools, colleges

Six days remain for the Women's Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2026 in Bhopal. The tournament begins on November 19 at the international sports complex in Nathu Barkheda, and preparations have picked up pace. The organisers want it to be more than an international sporting event, and to draw in every section of the city, especially young people.

As part of this effort, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang held a meeting on Friday at the Major Dhyan Chand Hall in TT Nagar. Representatives of educational institutions and prominent citizens of the city attended. The meeting discussed publicity for the tournament, the participation of school and college students, and a strategy to bring as many spectators as possible to the stadium. Representatives of the institutions assured active participation in the event.

Sarang said the Champions Trophy would be celebrated across Bhopal as a people's festival. According to him, it would be an effort to connect young people with hockey and sporting culture. He asked school and college managements to make special efforts to involve students in the tournament. Institutions should publicise it on their campuses so that as many children as possible are brought to the stadium to watch the matches. Sarang said that watching international players in action would inspire young people.

Teams from six countries will take part. The matches will be between the top women's hockey teams in Asia, and all of them will be played at the international sports complex in Nathu Barkheda.

Bhopal has also earned a major distinction in hockey ahead of the tournament. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has awarded a Category-1 certificate to the hockey ground at the Nathu Barkheda complex. After Hyderabad, Bhopal is the second city in the country with a certified hockey ground in this category. Sarang said the ground, built to international standards, was an important achievement in strengthening sports infrastructure in the state. He said it would strengthen the case for hosting international competitions and could also give the state's emerging players world-class facilities.

The minister said Bhopal has an old and proud association with hockey and that the city has made an important contribution to the history of Indian hockey. According to him, the tournament is a chance to carry that tradition forward.

Citing Madhya Pradesh's progress in sport, Sarang said the state's sports ranking had improved from 17th place to third in the country. Sub-sports residential academies are running in the state to give players better training. Under Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, sports complexes are also being built in every assembly constituency. He said the government's aim was not merely to build grounds and facilities but to create a sports ecosystem that offers opportunities from identifying children's talent to taking them to the national and international level.

Sarang said sport instils discipline, confidence and a spirit of healthy competition in young people, and that through sport they can stay away from drugs and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Children's talent is also being identified and they are being given opportunities to move ahead through the "Khelo Badho Abhiyan", he said. He added that for the event to succeed, the participation of educational institutions, sports bodies and society is needed along with the government.