Uttar Pradesh Hockey Claims Victory at National Championship in Rajgir
Uttar Pradesh Hockey Triumphs in National Championship
Rajgir (Bihar) [India], April 12: Uttar Pradesh Hockey has been crowned champions of the 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2026, held in Rajgir, Bihar, after a decisive victory over Hockey Madhya Pradesh in the Division 'A' Final.
In a statement, it was noted that Hockey Punjab secured the Bronze medal by defeating Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey in the match for third place.
The final match showcased Uttar Pradesh Hockey's dominance as they triumphed over Hockey Madhya Pradesh with a score of 5-2. The scoring began early when captain Ketan Kushwaha (4') netted a field goal.
Hockey Madhya Pradesh quickly responded, with Gazee Khan (8') leveling the score. However, Uttar Pradesh regained control shortly after, with Nitish Yadav (13') converting a penalty corner, followed by Ali Shahrukh (28') extending their lead with another field goal. Rajbhar Prahlad (35') and Chauhan Raghvendra Singh (40') further increased the gap, solidifying Uttar Pradesh's lead.
Ayush Singh Lodhi (43') managed to score for Hockey Madhya Pradesh, but it was merely a consolation as Uttar Pradesh secured a convincing 5-2 victory.
Uttar Pradesh Hockey's journey to the title was marked by an impressive performance throughout the tournament. They kicked off their campaign with a staggering 17-1 win against Manipur Hockey, followed by a 4-0 victory over Hockey Arunachal in the pool stage, and a 6-3 win against Hockey Odisha in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, they defeated Hockey Punjab 6-2, culminating in a stellar performance in the final to lift the championship trophy. Ali Shahrukh emerged as the top scorer for the team, playing a pivotal role in their success.
Earlier in the day, Hockey Punjab narrowly defeated Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey 1-0 in the third-place match of Division 'A', securing the Bronze medal. Rajveer Singh (8') scored the match's only goal, giving Punjab an early advantage.
Despite a determined effort from Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Punjab maintained their lead to clinch a hard-fought victory and finish their campaign on the podium.