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India Gazette
4 hours ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
15th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2025 to start in Ranchi from July 3
New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): The 15th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2025 is set to begin on July 3 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The tournament will run until July 14 and will follow the newly-introduced division-based format--first implemented earlier this year during the Senior Men and Women's National Championships. This year's edition will feature 28 teams divided into three divisions--Division A, Division B, and Division C--introducing an added competitive edge with promotion and relegation at stake, as per a press release from Hockey India. Division A, comprising the top 12 performing teams in the country, will see intense action as the defending champions Hockey Jharkhand and last year's runner-up Hockey Madhya Pradesh lead the challenge for the national title. Division B and Division C will serve as competitive battlegrounds for emerging teams to climb the ranks. *Division Format and Pool Composition -Division A (Top-tier Championship Division): Teams compete for the title, and two will face relegation. Pool A: Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Haryana, Hockey Andhra Pradesh Pool B: Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Chandigarh Pool C: Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Punjab Pool D: Hockey Mizoram, Delhi Hockey, Hockey Association of Bihar Each team will play round-robin matches within their pool. The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the Quarterfinals (July 11), followed by the Semifinals (July 12) and the Final & 3rd place playoff (July 14). The bottom two teams in Division A will be relegated to Division B next year. Also in Division A, if at the end of regulation time a classification match ends in a draw, a shoot-out competition--as specified in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Tournament Regulations--will be conducted to determine the winner. *Division B (Mid-tier Division): Teams compete for promotion to Division A; bottom two face relegation. Pool A: Hockey Karnataka, Manipur Hockey, Hockey Uttarakhand, Kerala Hockey, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey Pool B: Hockey Gujarat, Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Hockey Bengal *Division C (Entry-level Division): Teams compete for promotion to Division B. Pool A: Hockey Raj, Le Puducherry Hockey, Hockey Himachal Pool B: Assam Hockey, Telangana Hockey, Hockey Jammu and Kashmir, Goans Hockey Divisions B and C will follow a league format only, with top two teams in each gaining promotion to higher divisions. Across all divisions, teams will earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 for a loss. Speaking on the tournament, Hockey India President Dr Dilip Tirkey said, 'The division-based format has brought a new sense of purpose and competitiveness to our domestic structure. The Sub Junior Women's National Championship is a crucial platform for identifying and nurturing talent at the grassroots. Hosting the tournament in Ranchi--home to a strong hockey culture--makes this even more special. We look forward to witnessing top-tier performances from young athletes who are the future of Indian hockey.' Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh added, 'This revamped structure gives every team a clear goal--be it winning the championship, earning promotion, or avoiding relegation. It keeps the excitement alive at every level of the tournament. We are committed to providing equal and meaningful exposure to young girls through well-organised championships like this. Ranchi is ready to host another memorable event.' (ANI)
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First Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Asia Cup Hockey: Hockey India president reacts to Pakistan's possible participation — ‘We are constantly in contact…'
Sporting ties are yet to resume between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. In such a scenario, there's no guarantee Pakistan hockey team will be in India in August for Asia Cup 2025. read more There's no guarantee Pakistan hockey team will take part in Asia Cup 2025 in India. Image: AFP Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey has said that they will follow the Indian government's instructions regarding Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup 2025. Relations between the two nations have worsened since the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack in April, which prompted retaliatory action from India under Operation Sindoor. While a ceasefire agreement has been reached, sporting ties between India and Pakistan are yet to resume, casting doubt over Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD No clarity on Pak hockey team coming to India The Asia Cup hockey tournament is scheduled to take place from 27 August to 7 September in Bihar's Rajgir. Eight teams will take part in the Asia Cup, with the winner directly qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. 'We are constantly in contact with the government and have apprised them of everything. We will follow whatever the government instructs, and cannot preempt anything at the moment. Once we get that, we will inform the AHF,' Tirkey told Sportstar when asked about Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup 2025. When asked if Pakistan would be replaced by another team should the government object to their participation, former India captain Dilip Tirkey said that it would be a decision for the Asian Hockey Federation to make. 'This is a continental meet, and AHF will be the right authority to take that call. But that is a hypothetical situation that we cannot comment on till there is any decision by the government,' he reiterated. Interestingly, India and Pakistan have been drawn together in the same pool for the Hockey Men's Junior World Cup, with the tournament scheduled to take place in Tamil Nadu, India, from 28 November to 10 December 2025. Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup 2025 will also open the doors for the junior team to take part in the World Cup later this year.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Asia Cup 2025: Uncertainty around Pakistan's participation continues with two months to go
The draw for the Hockey Men's Junior World Cup on Saturday placed India and Pakistan together in the same Pool, but the latter's participation remains doubtful. While the tournament is scheduled to be held in November-December, the Asia Cup in August-September will give a clearer indication of how things might pan out. As a 2026 World Cup qualifying event, the Asia Cup in Rajgir holds importance for continental teams, but ongoing tensions between the two countries mean Pakistan is unlikely to travel to India. Although recent reports in Pakistan have claimed PHF officials saying they would be participating and are preparing accordingly, there is no confirmation from either the FIH, Asian Hockey Federation or Hockey India. HI President Dilip Tirkey reiterated that they would follow government directives on the matter, and no alternate scenarios are being considered at the moment. ALSO READ | FIH Pro League 2024-25: Indian women on the brink of relegation after 3-0 loss to China 'We are constantly in contact with the government and have apprised them of everything. We will follow whatever the government instructs, and cannot preempt anything at the moment. Once we get that, we will inform the AHF,' Tirkey told Sportstar. Asked if the competition would proceed with the remaining seven teams or an alternative team would be invited to replace Pakistan if it doesn't travel, Tirkey insisted it was up to the AHF. 'This is a continental meet, and AHF will be the right authority to take that call. But that is a hypothetical situation that we cannot comment on till there is any decision by the government,' he reiterated. Interestingly, HI secretary general Bholanath Singh, in Laussane for the MJWC draw, is also an AHF vice-president. Any decision on allowing Pakistan to travel for the Asia Cup is likely to reflect on its chances of participation in the MJWC as well. Related Topics India
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Uncertainty continues around Pakistan's participation in Asia Cup hockey
The draw for the Hockey Men's Junior World Cup on Saturday (MJWC) placed India and Pakistan together in the same Pool but the latter's participation remains doubtful. While the MJWC is scheduled to be held in November-December, the Asia Cup in August-September will give a clearer indication of how things might pan out. As a 2026 World Cup qualifying event, the Asia Cup in Rajgir holds importance for continental teams but ongoing tensions between the two countries mean Pakistan is unlikely to travel to India. Although recent reports in Pakistan have claimed the PHF officials saying they would be participating and are preparing accordingly, there is no confirmation from either the FIH, Asian Hockey Federation or Hockey India. HI president Dilip Tirkey reiterated that it would follow government directives on the matter and no alternate scenarios are being considered at the moment. 'We are constantly in contact with the government and have appraised them of everything. We will follow whatever the government instructs, cannot pre-empt anything at the moment. Once we get that, we will inform the AHF,' Tirkey told The Hindu. Asked if the competition would proceed with the remaining seven teams or an alternative team would be invited to replace Pakistan if it doesn't travel, Tirkey insisted it was up to the AHF. 'This is a continental meet and AHF will be the right authority to take that call. But that is a hypothetical situation that we cannot comment on till there is any decision by the government,' he reiterated. Interestingly, HI secretary general Bholanath Singh, in Laussane for the MJWC draw, is also an AHF vice-president. Any decision on allowing Pakistan to travel for the Asia Cup is likely to reflect on its chances of participation in the MJWC as well.
United News of India
23-06-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
Hockey India celebrates 77th Olympic Day with member units across the country
New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) Hockey India and its member units celebrated the 77th Olympic Day by hosting various sporting events and activities across the country. The events included friendly tournaments, exhibition matches, fitness and training sessions, poster-making and quiz competitions, as well as plantation drives to promote the Olympic values of sportsmanship and camaraderie. Through these activities, Hockey India aims to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and provide a platform to highlight the significance of fitness and sports—encouraging individuals to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives, regardless of age, gender, background, or community. Several member units, including Assam Hockey, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Mizoram, Chhattisgarh Hockey, and Hockey Jharkhand organised exhibition matches, while Goans Hockey and the Hockey Association of Odisha held hockey tournaments. Assam Hockey, the Hockey Association of Odisha, and Chhattisgarh Hockey also hosted poster-making and essay-writing competitions, while Hockey Mizoram organised a tree plantation drive. Odisha's Naval Tata Hockey Academy hosted a special lunch with Olympians and conducted quiz competitions as part of the Olympic Day celebrations. Olympic Day is celebrated annually on June 23, commemorating the birth of the modern Olympic Games, which began on 23 June 1894 in Paris. The primary objective of Olympic Day is to encourage global participation in sports, regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability. Since 2023, Olympic Day celebrations have aligned with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Let's Move initiative, which aims to promote physical activity and encourage people to move more every day. Speaking about the significance of Olympic Day and the positive message it spreads, Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey said, 'Every year on 23 June, our member units come together to show their remarkable dedication to the global Olympic movement and their love for hockey. Through these wide-ranging activities, they not only promote fitness and unity but also reflect the true spirit of Olympic Day, which champions inclusivity across all ages, genders, and abilities.' UNI BM
