Upcoming 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025: Format and Teams Revealed
Overview of the Championship
The 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025 is scheduled to occur from April 4 to April 15, 2025, at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. This tournament will adopt a new Division-based format similar to that used in the Senior Women National Championship held in March, as announced by Hockey India.
Tournament Structure
This domestic event will feature 30 teams competing across three divisions: Division A, Division B, and Division C, with a system of promotion and relegation in place. Division A will host the top teams vying for the championship title, while Division B teams will aim for promotion to Division A in the following season. Division C teams will compete for a chance to move up to Division B.
Teams in Division A
Division A comprises the twelve best-performing teams in India, including the defending champions, Hockey Association of Odisha, and the runners-up, Hockey Haryana. The teams are organized into four pools:
- Pool A: Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Punjab, Hockey Madhya Pradesh
- Pool B: Hockey Haryana, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Jharkhand
- Pool C: Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Hockey Bengal
- Pool D: Manipur Hockey, Hockey Karnataka, Le Puducherry Hockey
Each team will compete against every other team in their pool. The knockout stage will only occur in Division A, where the top two teams from each pool will progress to the Quarterfinals on April 12, followed by the Semifinals on April 13, and the Final along with the 3rd/4th place match on April 15. The bottom two teams in Division A will be relegated to Division B for the next tournament.
Details of Division B and C
In Division B, ten teams will compete for a chance to move up to Division A, divided into two pools:
- Pool A: Hockey Chandigarh, Goans Hockey, Telangana Hockey, Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Hockey Uttarakhand
- Pool B: Delhi Hockey, Hockey Mizoram, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Kerala Hockey, Assam Hockey
The top two teams from Division B will be promoted to Division A, while the bottom two will drop to Division C. Division C will feature eight teams also split into two pools, competing for promotion to Division B.
- Pool A: Hockey Raj, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Jammu & Kashmir, Tripura Hockey
- Pool B: Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Himachal, Hockey Association of Bihar, Hockey Gujarat
In all divisions, the points system awards three points for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss. Division A will have knockout rounds, while Divisions B and C will conclude with standings based on points.
Comments from Officials
Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey expressed optimism about the new format, stating, "The new format worked out really well during the senior women national championship, and we are eager to see how it unfolds this time. With promotion and relegation at stake, I expect teams to give their best on the field and showcase exceptional hockey."
Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh emphasized the importance of this tournament for identifying emerging talent for upcoming international competitions, noting the high level of play in recent domestic tournaments.
Match Schedule
Matches in Divisions B and C will kick off on April 4, while Division A matches will start on April 8. The opening day will feature several exciting matchups, including Hockey Raj against Tripura Hockey and Hockey Chandigarh facing Hockey Andhra Pradesh.