Hockey Jharkhand Clinches Title at 16th National Championship

Hockey Jharkhand Triumphs in National Championship

Hockey Jharkhand has successfully retained their championship title by winning the 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2026 held in Ranchi, Jharkhand. They secured victory against Hockey Madhya Pradesh in a tightly contested Division 'A' final.

In the battle for third place, the Hockey Association of Odisha claimed the bronze medal by defeating Uttar Pradesh Hockey.

Exciting Final Match Highlights

The final match was thrilling, with Hockey Jharkhand narrowly defeating Hockey Madhya Pradesh 2-1. Sugan Sanga opened the scoring for Jharkhand with a penalty corner conversion in the 5th minute. However, Madhya Pradesh's Nammi Geethasri equalized in the 37th minute. As the match progressed, both teams fought hard for the lead, but it was Sewani Kerketta who scored a vital field goal in the 56th minute, securing the championship for Jharkhand.

Jharkhand's victory was a result of an impressive tournament run, remaining unbeaten. They topped Pool A with two wins and continued their success with 2-0 victories in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals against Hockey Punjab and Uttar Pradesh Hockey, respectively. Sandeepa Kumari was the standout player, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with five goals.

Odisha's Bronze Medal Performance

Earlier in the day, the Hockey Association of Odisha triumphed over Uttar Pradesh Hockey with a score of 4-2 in the 3rd/4th place match of Division 'A', securing the bronze medal. Priyanka Minz was instrumental, scoring two goals in the 8th and 18th minutes, giving Odisha a strong start. Priya Princess Ekka (22') and Archana Kujur (27') added to the lead, establishing a solid advantage. Although Uttar Pradesh's captain Arika Kumari (29') scored from a penalty stroke and Mamta Kumari (58') converted a penalty corner late in the game, Odisha's early dominance ensured their podium finish.