The 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 kicks off in Coimbatore on Tuesday, featuring 30 teams competing for domestic honors over the next 12 days. The tournament will culminate on August 8 with the Division ‘A’ final, where the national champions will be determined.
The championship is divided into three divisions – ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’, with each match carrying added significance due to promotion and relegation dynamics. While Division ‘A’ teams vie for the national title, those in Divisions ‘B’ and ‘C’ aim for promotion to the higher tiers.
In Division ‘A’, 12 teams are split into four pools of three each. Teams such as Hockey Haryana, Hockey Madhya Pradesh, and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu will compete in Pool A, while Pool B includes teams like Hockey Association of Odisha and Manipur Hockey. The top two teams from each Division ‘A’ pool will advance to the quarter-finals on August 5, followed by the semi-finals on August 6.
Division ‘B’ consists of 10 teams divided into two pools, with the top two teams earning promotion to Division ‘A’. Meanwhile, Division ‘C’ will see eight teams competing in two pools, with the top two teams securing promotion to Division ‘B’. The tournament will follow a league format during the pool stage, with teams earning points based on wins, draws, and losses.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey emphasized the championship’s role in nurturing future international players, while Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh highlighted the competition’s significance in the development pathway for aspiring hockey players across the country. The competition begins with Division ‘C’ fixtures, followed by Division ‘B’ action later in the day, and Division ‘A’ matches starting on August 1.
