Uttar Pradesh Hockey Triumphs at National Championship 2026

Uttar Pradesh Hockey Crowned Champions

Uttar Pradesh Hockey claimed the title at the 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2026 held in Rajgir, Bihar, by defeating Hockey Madhya Pradesh in the Division 'A' Final. In a separate match, Hockey Punjab secured the Bronze medal by overcoming Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey.

Final Match Highlights

In an exciting final, Uttar Pradesh Hockey showcased their dominance with a 5-2 victory over Hockey Madhya Pradesh. The match began with captain Ketan Kushwaha scoring a field goal just four minutes in. Hockey Madhya Pradesh quickly equalized through Gazee Khan in the 8th minute. However, Uttar Pradesh regained control with Nitish Yadav converting a penalty corner in the 13th minute, followed by Ali Shahrukh extending the lead with another field goal at the 28-minute mark. Additional goals from Rajbhar Prahlad (35') and Chauhan Raghvendra Singh (40') solidified their lead. Ayush Singh Lodhi managed to score for Hockey Madhya Pradesh in the 43rd minute, but it was merely a consolation as Uttar Pradesh secured a convincing 5-2 win.

Uttar Pradesh's Impressive Tournament Journey

Uttar Pradesh Hockey's path to victory was marked by a series of impressive performances. They kicked off the tournament with a staggering 17-1 win against Manipur Hockey, followed by a 4-0 triumph over Hockey Arunachal in the pool stage. In the quarter-finals, they defeated Hockey Odisha 6-3, and in the semi-finals, they overcame Hockey Punjab with a score of 6-2, culminating in their final victory.

Hockey Punjab Secures Bronze

In the earlier match for third place, Hockey Punjab narrowly defeated Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey 1-0. Rajveer Singh scored the decisive goal in the 8th minute, giving Punjab an early lead. Despite a strong effort from their opponents, Hockey Punjab maintained their advantage to finish on the podium.