The 44th All India K.D. Singh ‘Babu’ Invitational Prize Money Men’s Hockey Tournament 2026–27 is scheduled to take place in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, from November 10 to 20, 2026. The tournament features prominently in Hockey India’s national tournament calendar and is among the domestic men’s hockey competitions scheduled in the country during November.
Organised as an invitational prize-money competition, the tournament carries the legacy of K.D. Singh ‘Babu’, one of India’s celebrated hockey players. Its 44th edition will bring the spotlight back to Lucknow, a city closely associated with the legendary Olympian and Indian hockey’s history.
Key Details of the Tournament
According to Hockey India’s national tournament calendar, the 2026–27 edition is scheduled for November 10–20 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Here are the confirmed tournament details:
| Tournament Detail | Information |
| Tournament | 44th All India K.D. Singh ‘Babu’ Invitational Prize Money Men’s Hockey Tournament |
| Edition | 44th |
| Season | 2026–27 |
| Start Date | November 10, 2026 |
| End Date | November 20, 2026 |
| Location | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| Category | Men’s Hockey |
| Tournament Type | Invitational, Prize Money |
44th K.D. Singh Babu Hockey Tournament to Be Held in Lucknow
Lucknow will host the 44th edition of the All India K.D. Singh ‘Babu’ Invitational Men’s Hockey Tournament. The competition is listed in Hockey India’s official national tournament schedule for November 10–20, 2026.
The tournament is part of India’s domestic hockey calendar, which features national championships, invitational competitions and other events involving teams from different parts of the country. Its return to Lucknow also highlights the city’s longstanding association with hockey.
While the tournament dates and host city have been included in Hockey India’s calendar, the participating teams, match fixtures and detailed competition format should be confirmed through the organisers’ official announcements. These details have not been included in the available official tournament listing.
Who Was K.D. Singh ‘Babu’?
Kunwar Digvijay Singh, popularly known as K.D. Singh ‘Babu’, was an Indian hockey player born on February 2, 1922, in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. He represented India during the country’s early years of international hockey success and became one of the prominent figures in the sport.
K.D. Singh was a member of India’s gold-medal-winning hockey teams at the 1948 London Olympics and the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Known for his playmaking abilities and attacking skills, he earned recognition as one of the country’s distinguished hockey players.
Beyond his playing career, Babu also contributed to the development of hockey in Uttar Pradesh. According to the K.D. Singh Babu Memorial Society, he served as the Director of the Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate and worked towards promoting sports and developing young hockey players.
The invitational tournament named after him commemorates his contribution to Indian hockey and helps maintain his legacy within the domestic sporting calendar.
K.D. Singh Babu Memorial Society and Hockey Development
The K.D. Singh Babu Memorial Society was established to preserve the legacy and vision of the former Indian hockey player. The society focuses on encouraging hockey participation and organising competitions for young players.
According to the organisation’s official website, it has been involved in conducting the All India K.D. Singh Babu Memorial Under-14 Prize Money Hockey Tournament since 1990. It also organises coaching camps and other hockey competitions to support grassroots development in Lucknow.
The society’s work reflects the wider contribution of the K.D. Singh Babu legacy to the development of hockey in Uttar Pradesh, particularly through opportunities for younger players to participate in competitive tournaments.
Other Major Hockey Tournaments in India’s November 2026 Calendar
The 44th All India K.D. Singh ‘Babu’ Invitational Prize Money Men’s Hockey Tournament is one of several domestic competitions scheduled during November 2026.
According to Hockey India’s national tournament calendar, other events include the 54th Nehru Junior Hockey Tournament, scheduled from November 1–12 in New Delhi, and the ASMITA North Zone Junior and Sub-Junior Women Hockey Leagues, scheduled from November 12–22 in Jhansi.
The 43rd Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Tournament is also scheduled to take place in Jalandhar from November 22–28, followed by the 36th Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey Tournament in New Delhi from November 27 to December 5.
With the 44th edition scheduled in Lucknow, the K.D. Singh Babu Invitational Tournament will add another important domestic men’s hockey competition to India’s November sporting calendar.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The 44th edition of the All India K.D. Singh Babu Invitational Men’s Hockey Tournament is scheduled to take place from November 10 to 20, 2026.
The tournament will be held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, as listed in Hockey India’s national tournament calendar for 2026–27.
K.D. Singh ‘Babu’ was a celebrated Indian hockey player who represented India at the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games, winning gold medals at both events. He is remembered for his contribution to Indian hockey and the development of the sport in Uttar Pradesh.
