The 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2026 is ready to commence on April 1 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar. This 12-day tournament will showcase emerging hockey talent from across the nation, competing in three divisions, a format introduced by Hockey India at national championships last year.
A total of 30 teams from India will participate in Division ‘A’, Division ‘B’, and Division ‘C’, with a promotion and relegation system enhancing the competition. Division ‘A’ teams will vie for the championship title, while the top two teams from Divisions ‘B’ and ‘C’ will earn promotion. Conversely, the bottom two teams in Divisions ‘A’ and ‘B’ will face relegation.
Division ‘A’ will consist of 12 teams split into four pools, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final scheduled for April 12. Pool A features Hockey Punjab, Hockey Chandigarh, and Hockey Maharashtra. Pool B includes Hockey Jharkhand, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu. Pool C comprises Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Haryana, and Manipur Hockey, while Pool D contains Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Association of Odisha, and Kerala Hockey.
Division ‘B’ will be played in a league format with two pools. Pool A includes Delhi Hockey, Hockey Gujarat, Hockey Bengal, Telangana Hockey, and Hockey Uttarakhand. Pool B consists of Hockey Karnataka, Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Himachal, and Bihar (BSSA).
Division ‘C’ will also follow a league format, with Pool A featuring Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Hockey Mizoram, Le Puducherry Hockey, and Assam Hockey, while Pool B includes Goans Hockey, Hockey Jammu & Kashmir, RAJ, and Tripura Olympic Association.
The tournament will take place at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium, where teams will earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss during the pool stages. In Division ‘A’, tied knockout matches will be resolved through shoot-outs according to FIH regulations.
With a structured promotion and relegation system and a strong pool of young talent, the tournament is expected to deliver high-quality competition and serve as a vital platform for discovering the next generation of Indian hockey stars.
Ahead of the tournament, Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey stated, “The Sub Junior National Championship continues to play a vital role in strengthening the grassroots structure of Indian hockey. The participation of teams from across divisions and the introduction of the promotion and relegation setup ensures a highly competitive environment, giving the young players an opportunity to test themselves against the best in their age group. We are confident that this tournament will unearth promising talent who can contribute to the future success of Indian hockey.”
Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bola Nath Singh echoed these sentiments, saying, “This tournament is a crucial platform for identifying and nurturing young talent from across the country. With a robust competition structure that includes promotion and relegation, we are confident that the players will gain invaluable experience and exposure. We look forward to an exciting tournament and wish all the teams the very best.”
The opening day will feature Hockey Andhra Pradesh facing Assam Hockey, followed by Hockey Mizoram against Le Puducherry Hockey. The third match will see Goans Hockey compete against Hockey Jammu & Kashmir. In Division ‘B’, Delhi Hockey will take on Telangana Hockey, while Hockey Gujarat faces Hockey Uttarakhand. Hockey Karnataka will clash with Hockey Himachal, and the final match of the day will pit Chhattisgarh Hockey against Bihar (BSSA).
