New Delhi, Oct. 26 -- Having successfully defended their Asian Games gold medal for the first time this month, the Indian men's team is expected to extend the hold on the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) as international hockey makes a return to Punjab after 17 years.

Having last held the Punjab Gold Cup in 2009, the state rich in hockey talent has now picked Jalandhar and Mohali to host the tournament, to be played from October 27 to November 5. It pits the continent's top six teams (barring Pakistan, who pulled out) - India, Japan, China, Malaysia, South Korea and Bangladesh.

India enter the ACT high on momentum after easily defending their Asiad gold in Japan's Kakamigahara, where they won all seven matches. India also won the Asia Cup l...