This championship marks a significant milestone in Hockey India’s grassroots development program, aiming to foster emerging talent across the nation. Following the resounding success of the first season of the Junior Men and Junior Women Zonal Championships held earlier this year in March, anticipation is high for this new chapter in Indian sub-junior hockey.
Notably, the Sub Junior Men and Sub Junior Women Zonal Championships will unfold in a league format, promising action-packed encounters. Teams will earn three points for a win, while a draw will reward each team with one point. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, shoot-out will decide the victor, adding an extra layer of excitement to the classification matches.
The path to the Final is an arduous one. The top two teams after the completion of the group stage in both the sub-junior men’s and sub-junior women’s categories will secure coveted berths in the championship showdown. Meanwhile, the teams that finish third and fourth in the pool stages will battle it out for the 3rd/4th place honour, ensuring fierce competition from start to finish.
Also, following the action-packed encounters in the East Zone, the Hockey India Sub Junior Men and Sub Junior Women Zonal Championships will continue their journey across the country. The North Zone leg is up next, scheduled from 1st to 8th October, followed by the West Zone (9th to 16th October) and South Zone (17th to 24th October) legs, promising a thrilling nationwide odyssey for hockey fans.
As the nation eagerly awaits this tournament, it’s clear that the Hockey India Sub Junior Men and Sub Junior Women Zonal Championships are poised to unearth the next generation of hockey stars and contribute significantly to the sport’s growth in India.
Speaking on the same, Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr. Dilip Kumar Tirkey said, “We’re thrilled to kick off the inaugural edition of the Hockey India Sub Junior Men and Sub Junior Women Zonal Championships in Ranchi, Jharkhand, a state with a rich hockey tradition. This tournament signifies our commitment to nurturing grassroots talent.”
“Just as the first season of the Junior Championships made a significant impact, we believe these Sub Junior Championships will be a stepping stone for our young players on their journey to representing the national team,” he added.
Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh echoed the President’s remarks, saying that, “The Sub Junior Championships will provide these young talents with invaluable exposure and experience. It’s a vital component of their development. Also, beyond the competition, these championships represent the spirit of unity and sportsmanship as teams from across zones come together to showcase their passion for the sport. It’s a celebration of hockey in its purest form.”
HOCKEY INDIA TEAM PARTNERS
Odisha (India’s Best Kept Secret) – Major Team Partner
Sports Authority of India (SAI)
Shiv Naresh
About HOCKEY INDIA
HOCKEY INDIA (HI) is the governing body with exclusive mandate to direct and conduct all activities for both men and women’s hockey in India. It is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India as the sole body responsible towards promoting Hockey in India.
Headquartered in New Delhi, Hockey India was established on 20th May, 2009 and is affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
Committed to the development of Hockey in the country, Hockey India with the assistance of Sports Authority of India and Department of Sports, Government of India, trains players at sub-junior, junior and senior level. The governing body engages in Coaching the coaches with International Standard certification programs, educates and equips technical officials and umpires to find a foothold in international arena, provides world-class infrastructure and International exposure for the players besides regular international competition. Hockey India has also pioneered in bringing top International hockey events to India such as the FIH Men’s World Cup in 2010 and 2018, FIH Champions Trophy in 2014, FIH Junior Men’s World Cup in 2016 and 2021, FIH Hockey World League Final in 2017. With its vision to popularize the game and constantly promote it, Hockey India brought the Indian Men’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world. Hockey India is also dedicated to getting the Indian Women’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world.
About ODISHA
Odisha – the Eastern State of India – is known for its love for Hockey and over the years it has evolved to be the Global Hub of Hockey. The State successfully hosted the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, followed by the FIH Men’s Series Finals Bhubaneswar Odisha, FIH Olympic Qualifiers Odisha, and FIH Hockey Pro League 2020-21. Odisha has previously hosted the Champions Trophy 2014 and the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017. Odisha also hosted the FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup in 2021.
Kalinga Lancers, the team owned by the State, were the winners in the Hockey India League 2017. Taking a step further towards realising the dream of restoring the glory of Indian Hockey at the global level, the State is sponsoring the Indian Hockey Teams till 2033.
Odisha also hosted the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023.
