Title Battles in Rajgir—Madhya Pradesh in Both Finals, Facing Tough Challenges from UP and Jharkhand
Punjab Newsline,Sports :
The 16th Hockey India Sub-Junior National Championship 2026, being held in Rajgir, Bihar, has reached its final stage, setting up an action-packed day on April 12 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium.
The biggest highlight of the tournament is Hockey Madhya Pradesh securing a place in both the men’s and women’s finals. In the men’s final, Madhya Pradesh will take on Uttar Pradesh Hockey. Both teams have remained unbeaten so far, promising a thrilling contest. In the semi-finals, Madhya Pradesh defeated Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey 4-2, while Uttar Pradesh outclassed defending champions Hockey Punjab with a dominant 6-2 victory.
Uttar Pradesh has been in शानदार form throughout the tournament. Shahrukh Ali leads the scoring charts with 14 goals, while Nitish Yadav has netted seven goals, all from penalty corners. Dhiraj Pal, with five goals, is also expected to play a crucial role.
In the women’s final, Madhya Pradesh will face defending champions Hockey Jharkhand. Both teams have been the highest scorers in the division, with Jharkhand scoring 19 goals and Madhya Pradesh close behind with 18. In the semi-finals, Jharkhand defeated Uttar Pradesh 2-0, while Madhya Pradesh edged past Odisha 2-1.
Nousheen Naz of Madhya Pradesh leads the women’s scoring chart with nine goals, while Sandeepa Kumari of Jharkhand follows with five goals.
In the third-place matches, Odisha will face Uttar Pradesh in the women’s category, while Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey will clash with Punjab in the men’s category. All eyes are now on the finals day, where the new champions will be crowned in an electrifying showdown.