Breaking
BreakingHockey

Manpreet Singh ruled out of Asian Champions Trophy, Vivek Sagar Prasad named replacement

India captain Harmanpreet Singh confirmed the calf injury at a press conference in Jalandhar on October 26, 2026.

By , Sports writer

· 2 min read

Vivek Prasad
Vivek Prasad (file photo) Photo: Mauricio V. Genta / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

India midfielder Manpreet Singh is out of the 2026 Asian Champions Trophy after a calf injury in training. Vivek Sagar Prasad replaces him as India prepare to defend their title at home.

Key takeaways

  • Manpreet Singh ruled out of Asian Champions Trophy due to a calf injury sustained in training.
  • Vivek Sagar Prasad named as his replacement in the India squad.
  • Harmanpreet Singh confirmed the change at a press conference in Jalandhar on October 26, 2026.
  • India will open their title defence against Bangladesh on October 27 at Jalandhar.

India have suffered an injury blow ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy, with experienced midfielder Manpreet Singh ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a calf injury during a training session. Fellow playmaker Vivek Sagar Prasad has been named as his replacement in the Indian squad. India Today reported the development on October 26, 2026, and The Assam Tribune confirmed it the same day.

Skipper confirms injury at press conference

India captain Harmanpreet Singh confirmed the development during the captains' press conference in Jalandhar on Monday, a day before the hosts begin their campaign against Bangladesh. Speaking at the press conference, Harmanpreet said: "A calf injury sustained during a training session has ruled out Manpreet Singh from Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026. He has been replaced by fellow playmaker Vivek Sagar Prasad in India squad."

What the Asian Champions Trophy is

The Men's Asian Champions Trophy is an event held annually by the Asian Hockey Federation since 2011. It features Asia's six top field hockey teams competing in a round robin format. India is the most successful team in the tournament history, winning the trophy five times. The next most frequent champion has been Pakistan, winning the trophy thrice.

Manpreet's record and missed milestones

Manpreet Singh, a key player with 430 international caps and multiple Olympic and Asian Games medals, was set to play on his home turf in Punjab for the first time in his career.

Tournament format and schedule

The 2026 Men's Asian Champions Trophy is scheduled to be the 9th edition of the Men's Asian Champions Trophy, an international field hockey tournament organized by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). The tournament will be held from 27 October to 5 November 2026 across two cities in Punjab, India. The tournament, featuring Malaysia, Japan, China, South Korea, and Bangladesh, kicks off on October 27 in Jalandhar. India will face Bangladesh in their opening match, followed by games against China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea.

What happens next

India will start their quest for another title on October 27 against Bangladesh at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar. The league matches will be played till November 2, before the tournament shifts to Mohali for the semi-finals and the medal matches. The semi-finals and medal matches will be held at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali on November 4 and 5. India, five-time champions, are set to defend their title at home and will be eyeing a sixth title on home soil.

Sources

Topics

Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy or use the flag button above. Our editorial standards explain how we report.

Discussion

Sign in or create a free account to join the discussion. Please follow our community guidelines.