Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship Begins in Chandigarh
The 14th edition of the Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship is set to take place at the Hockey Stadium, Sports Complex, Chandigarh, from September 23 to October 3. As many as 28 teams from across the nation will battle it out for the coveted title, promising nearly two weeks of exhilarating hockey action.
Teams and Pools
The teams are divided into eight pools:
| Pool | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Uttarakhand, Hockey Andhra Pradesh |
| B | Hockey Association of Odisha, Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Rajasthan |
| C | Hockey Haryana, Hockey Bengal, Telangana Hockey |
| D | Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Assam Hockey, Kerala Hockey |
| E | Hockey Punjab, Hockey Bihar, Hockey Karnataka, Manipur Hockey |
| F | Hockey Chandigarh, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Jammu & Kashmir |
| G | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Goans Hockey, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Hockey Gujarat |
| H | Delhi Hockey, Le Puducherry Hockey, Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Himachal |
The top team from each pool will qualify for the Quarter-Finals, followed by the Semi-Finals, the third-place playoff, and the Final.
Opening Day Matches
The opening day will feature six matches:
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli And Daman & Diu Hockey vs. Goans Hockey
- Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu vs. Hockey Gujarat
- Hockey Punjab vs. Hockey Karnataka
- Hockey Bihar vs. Manipur Hockey
- Hockey Arunachal vs. Hockey Jammu & Kashmir
- Hockey Chandigarh vs. Hockey Maharashtra
Statements from Officials
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, “The Sub Junior Men National Championship is a crucial platform to identify and nurture young talent from across the country. We are excited to witness the upcoming stars of Indian hockey in action.”
Adding to this, Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General of Hockey India, stated, “Empowering our young athletes with exposure to match conditions is a priority for us. We are looking forward to witnessing some strong performances over the next two weeks.”
Doubts Revealed
Hockey India -: Hockey India is the organization that manages and promotes the sport of hockey in India.
Sub Junior -: Sub Junior refers to a category for younger players, usually under the age of 16.
National Championship -: A National Championship is a big competition where teams from all over the country compete to be the best.
Chandigarh -: Chandigarh is a city in northern India, known for being very well-planned and clean.
Pools -: In sports, pools are groups of teams that play against each other to qualify for the next round.
Quarter-Finals -: Quarter-Finals are matches where the top 8 teams compete to move on to the Semi-Finals.
Nurture -: Nurture means to help someone or something grow and develop.
Dilip Tirkey -: Dilip Tirkey is the President of Hockey India and a former Indian hockey player.
Bhola Nath Singh -: Bhola Nath Singh is the Secretary General of Hockey India, helping to manage the organization.
