"Main focus is the title": Jugraj on Pakistan's absence
Indian hockey defender Jugraj Singh reacts to Pakistan's withdrawal from the Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab, emphasizing the team's focus on the title.
Indian hockey defender Jugraj Singh has addressed the absence of arch-rivals Pakistan from the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy, stating that while the intense rivalry will be missed by fans, the Indian squad is strictly focused on securing the championship trophy on home soil.
The tournament, which is set to kick off in Punjab from October 27, will see a shift in its competitive landscape following Pakistan's withdrawal. Bangladesh has been brought in to replace the former world champions, altering the expected high-voltage clashes that fans typically crave.
Focus remains on the championship
Speaking in New Delhi, Jugraj acknowledged the void left by the absence of a potential India-Pakistan showdown. However, he maintained a disciplined stance regarding the team's objectives.
"We cannot say much about that because it is up to them whether they come or not. But our focus is on the Champions Trophy. If Pakistan had come, that would have been fine too, and there is not any issue with that. But our main focus is on the Asian Champions Trophy," Jugraj said.
He further noted that the public would undoubtedly feel the loss of that specific intensity. "It will be missing (the intensity of India-Pakistan matches) as public wants these matches to happen. They will miss that match," he added.
A homecoming for Indian Hockey
For Jugraj, the tournament holds a deeper emotional significance as it returns to Punjab, a region widely considered the nursery of Indian hockey. The matches will be spread across two iconic venues:
- Jalandhar: The Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium will host all league-stage matches from October 27 to November 2.
- Mohali: The Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium will host the high-stakes business end, including the semi-finals on November 4 and the medal matches on November 5.
The defender expressed immense pride in seeing international hockey return to his home state, noting the unique opportunity for players to perform in front of their own families. "I am very happy that in these matches, our family will be able to watch us play live. For us, that is a matter of great pride," he remarked.
Competitive landscape with Bangladesh included
Despite the change in the lineup, Jugraj remains wary of the competition. The tournament will feature the reigning Asian Games champions India, alongside Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China, and the newly added Bangladesh.
Addressing the inclusion of Bangladesh, Jugraj emphasized that the level of play remains high. "Bangladesh coming in... in my opinion, like in the final match (at the Asian Games), we had Malaysia. The Malaysian team is coming, Japan is coming, China, Korea—these are quite good teams. It is not that they are bad teams; they are good teams, and there will be great matches. You will definitely enjoy watching them," he said.
As five-time winners of the tournament, India enters the competition as the top-ranked side, looking to build on their recent success at the Asian Games and cement their dominance in the Asian circuit.