The 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2026 is scheduled to start on April 1 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar. The tournament will run for 12 days and will feature top emerging hockey talent from around the country competing in three divisions. Last year, Hockey India introduced this format across national championships to enhance competitiveness.
A total of 30 teams from across India will participate in Division ‘A’, Division ‘B’, and Division ‘C’, with promotion and relegation dynamics adding excitement to the event. Division ‘A’ will see 12 teams divided into four pools, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final on April 12. Teams in Division ‘B’ and ‘C’ will also compete in a league format.
The tournament will be held at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium, with teams earning points based on wins, draws, and losses in the pool stages. In Division ‘A’, tied knockout matches will be resolved through shoot-outs following FIH regulations. With a focus on promoting and nurturing young talent, the championship aims to identify the future stars of Indian hockey.
