“India-Pakistan flavour will be missed”: Asian Games gold mdealist Suraj Karkera on Men in Green's withdrawal from Hockey Asian Champions Trophy
Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera says fans will miss the India-Pakistan hockey rivalry after Pakistan withdrew from the Asian Champions Trophy.
“The India-Pakistan flavour will be missed by the people,” remarked Indian men’s hockey goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, reflecting on the sudden withdrawal of Pakistan from the upcoming Hockey Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) Punjab 2026.
The high-octane rivalry, which serves as a cornerstone of continental hockey, will be absent from the tournament scheduled to take place from October 27 to November 5. Following Pakistan's exit, Bangladesh has been drafted in to complete the six-team lineup for the event, which will be hosted across two venues in Punjab: the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali.
A Rivalry Beyond the Players' Control
Speaking to ANI during a felicitation ceremony where the Chief of the Army Staff, General Dhiraj Seth, honored Indian Army sportspersons, Karkera expressed that while athletes desire to compete against the best, certain administrative and political decisions lie outside their jurisdiction.
“They are a good team, and athletes never want to pull out of a tournament, but these are things beyond our control. We're just there to go and perform to the best of our ability, and I think the result will take care of itself. The India-Pakistan flavour will be missed by the people, but it is something that is way beyond our say,” Karkera said.
The intensity of the India-Pakistan clash is backed by recent history. In their last 20 encounters since 2016, India has dominated the field with 18 victories, while Pakistan has struggled to secure a win, with two matches ending in draws. Their most recent encounter saw India emerge victorious with a 4-3 win in the semifinal of the 2026 Asian Games.
India Eyes Home Ground Dominance
Despite the absence of their arch-rivals, the Indian team enters the Asian Champions Trophy with immense momentum. As the reigning Asian Games champions and five-time ACT winners, India will lead a field consisting of Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China, and the newly added Bangladesh.
India's recent triumph at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, where they defeated Malaysia 5-1 in the final, marked a historic milestone. It was the first time both the Indian men's and women's hockey teams secured gold in the same edition of the Games.
Focus Shifts to LA 2028
For Karkera, who serves as a Subedar in the Indian Army, the recognition from the Chief of Army Staff serves as a vital catalyst for the team's upcoming preparations. With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on the horizon, the squad is already looking toward refining their game.
“We have our targets in mind. We will look at all our mistakes and will make sure we don't commit them, get to a new level and a new standard in the field of hockey. It's home ground for us, we'll be looking to win it again as the defending champions. We'll also start our camp and training soon,” Karkera added.