Exciting Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship Kicks Off in Hyderabad

Hockey Championship Set to Begin

The 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026 is poised to commence on Friday in Hyderabad, Telangana.

This esteemed tournament will feature 20 departmental teams from across India vying for the championship title, culminating in the final match on September 14, as announced by Hockey India.

The teams are organized into four distinct pools. Pool A includes the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, Sashastra Seema Bal, Central Secretariat, I.T.B.P. Central Hockey Team, and Punjab National Bank.

In Pool B, the teams are Comptroller & Auditor General of India, Defence Accounts Sports Control Board, Sports Authority of India, Central Reserve Police Force, and Punjab & Sind Bank.

Pool C features Services Sports Control Board, Steel Plant Sports Board, All India Police Sports Control Board, Central Board of Direct Taxes, and Union Bank of India. Meanwhile, Pool D comprises Food Corporation of India, Tamil Nadu Police, Railway Sports Promotion Board, Canara Bank, and Central Industrial Security Force.

The tournament will kick off with an action-packed opening day, where the Comptroller & Auditor General of India will face the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Sports Authority of India will compete against the Defence Accounts Sports Control Board in Pool B.

In Pool A, the defending champions, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, will start their title defense against Sashastra Seema Bal, while Central Secretariat will take on the I.T.B.P. Central Hockey Team.

Other matches include Services Sports Control Board against Steel Plant Sports Board, All India Police Sports Control Board versus Union Bank of India, Food Corporation of India meeting Tamil Nadu Police, and Railway Sports Promotion Board clashing with Canara Bank.

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed, “The Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship remains a vital platform for players to showcase their skills at a high level. The participation of 20 teams this year signifies the growing strength of hockey across various departments. I am optimistic that the tournament in Hyderabad will deliver thrilling and competitive matches, providing players with a chance to advance in their development.”

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh echoed these thoughts, stating, “The Inter-Department National Championship has strengthened with each edition, emphasizing the significant role of departments and institutions in Indian hockey. With 20 teams competing this year, we anticipate intense competition throughout the tournament. I wish all teams the best and hope for memorable performances in Hyderabad.”

The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board enters the tournament with confidence, having won the title in the previous edition in 2025 by defeating the Comptroller & Auditor General of India 3-0 in the final held in Jamshedpur. Sumit Kumar and Sudeep Chirmako scored in the first half, while Yousuf Affan secured the victory with a late field goal.

In the 2025 edition, the Services Sports Control Board also performed well, clinching third place after a shootout victory over the Food Corporation of India, following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

As the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board aims to defend their title in Hyderabad, they will be a team to watch, alongside several other formidable departmental teams eager to claim the prestigious trophy.

The pool stage will run until September 9, followed by a rest day on September 10. The Quarter-Finals are set for September 11, with the Semi-Finals scheduled for September 13. The championship will conclude with the third/fourth-place match and the final on September 14.