The 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2026 is set to kick off on April 1 in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and will run until April 12. The tournament will follow a division-based format, a structure introduced by Hockey India in national championships last year.
Division ‘A’ will consist of 12 teams divided into four pools. Knockout rounds are scheduled to commence on April 9, culminating in the Final on April 12. Hockey Jharkhand, the host team, leads Pool A, accompanied by Bihar (BSSA) and Hockey Maharashtra. Pool B includes Hockey Odisha, Hockey Punjab, and Hockey Andhra Pradesh, while Pool C features teams from Hockey Haryana, Hockey Madhya Pradesh, and Manipur Hockey. Pool D comprises Hockey Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh Hockey, and Chhattisgarh Hockey.
Division ‘B’ will operate on a league format from April 1-6, with teams split into two pools. Pool A will see Delhi Hockey, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Hockey Bengal, and Assam Hockey competing. Pool B will consist of Hockey Chandigarh, Hockey Uttarakhand, Hockey Gujarat, Hockey Karnataka, and Hockey Himachal.
Division ‘C’ will also be held in a league format from April 1-4. Pool A will include Kerala Hockey, Telangana Hockey, and Goans Hockey, while Pool B will feature Hockey Jammu & Kashmir, Le Puducherry Hockey, RAJ, and Tripura Olympic Association.
Matches are scheduled to take place at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. Teams across all divisions will earn three points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. In Division ‘A’, tied knockout matches will be resolved through shoot-outs following FIH rules.
Ahead of the tournament, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey emphasized the significance of the Sub Junior Women National Championship as a platform for identifying and nurturing young talent. He highlighted that the division-based format provides exposure to high-quality competition and a growth pathway through promotion. Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the tournament’s role in strengthening the grassroots structure of Indian hockey and showcasing talented players.
The tournament’s opening day will witness Hockey Jammu Kashmir facing Le Puducherry Hockey at 6 am, followed by Delhi Hockey against Hockey Bengal at 7:45 am. Subsequent matches will feature teams like Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Assam Hockey, Hockey Chandigarh, Hockey Karnataka, Hockey Uttarakhand, and Hockey Himachal.
