Hockey Haryana win 16th Junior Women National Championship 2-1 vs Jharkhand
Synopsis
Hockey Haryana survived an early scare from Jharkhand to win the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026 in Pune 2-1, capping a dominant campaign that included an 8-0 semi-final rout. Sukhpreet Kaur took Player of the Tournament as Haryana underlined their status as the force to watch in Indian junior women's hockey.
Key Takeaways
Hockey Haryana won the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026 , defeating Hockey Jharkhand 2-1 in the final on 23 August 2026 .
Goals from Bhavya (23') and Khushi (42') sealed the title after Mundri Saroj had put Jharkhand ahead in the 19th minute.
Haryana's campaign included a 10-1 win over Bengal, a 3-0 win over Odisha, and an 8-0 semi-final demolition of Chhattisgarh.
Hockey Madhya Pradesh claimed bronze with a 3-1 win over Chhattisgarh Hockey.
Sukhpreet Kaur (Haryana) was named Player of the Tournament ; Gargi Barla (Jharkhand) won Best Goalkeeper .
The tournament was organised by Hockey Maharashtra under the aegis of Hockey India at the Maj.
Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium , Pune.
Hockey Haryana clinched the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026 title with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hockey Jharkhand in the final held at the Maj. Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium, near Pune, on Sunday, 23 August 2026. The tournament, organised by Hockey Maharashtra under the aegis of Hockey India, produced a tense finale that went down to the wire.
How the Final Unfolded
Hockey Jharkhand drew first blood when Mundri Saroj struck in the 19th minute, catching Haryana off guard. Haryana responded swiftly, with Bhavya converting a penalty corner in the 23rd minute to level the contest. The scoreline stood at 1-1 at half-time after a competitive first half.
The third quarter remained goalless as both sides cancelled each other out. It was Khushi who broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute of the fourth quarter, netting the decisive goal to hand Haryana the championship title.
Haryana's Dominant Campaign
The champions were far from flattered by their title — they were the standout team across the tournament. Captained by Shashi Khasa and coached by Azad Singh Malik, Haryana opened their campaign with a commanding 10-1 rout of Hockey Bengal, before defeating Hockey Association of Odisha 3-0 in their second pool match.
They carried that momentum into the knockouts, edging Hockey Chandigarh 3-1 in the quarter-final before producing their most emphatic display of the tournament — a stunning 8-0 demolition of Chhattisgarh Hockey in the semi-final to secure their place in the final.
Third-Place Playoff
Hockey Madhya Pradesh claimed the bronze medal with a 3-1 win over Chhattisgarh Hockey on the same day. After a goalless first session, Kajal scored a brace in the 35th and 37th minutes — both off penalty strokes — before Tanvi added a third in the 42nd minute. Sheetal Yadav pulled one back for Chhattisgarh in the 54th minute, but it proved too little too late.
Individual Awards
The individual honours were spread across teams. Kajal of Hockey Madhya Pradesh was named Best Forward, while Haryana's Bhavya took the Best Defender award. Gargi Barla of Hockey Jharkhand was adjudged Best Goalkeeper. The coveted Player of the Tournament award went to Haryana's Sukhpreet Kaur, underlining the champions' collective strength.
Results at a Glance
Final: Hockey Haryana 2 (Bhavya 23'; Khushi 42') bt Hockey Jharkhand 1 (Mundri Saroj 19'). HT: 1-1.
Third Place: Hockey Madhya Pradesh 3 (Kajal 35', 37'; Tanvi 42') bt Chhattisgarh Hockey 1 (Sheetal Yadav 54'). HT: 0-0.
With this title, Hockey Haryana cement their standing as a powerhouse in Indian junior women's hockey, and their depth of talent — from a prolific attacker in Kajal's rival to a Player of the Tournament in Sukhpreet Kaur — signals strong prospects for the senior pipeline.
Point of View
3-0, 3-1, 8-0, and then a nervy 2-1 in the final — tells a familiar story about the state's hockey infrastructure outpacing the rest of the country at the junior level. What is notable this time is that Jharkhand, traditionally a talent-rich but under-resourced state, pushed Haryana to the limit in the final. If Hockey India and the Jharkhand government invest in converting that raw talent into structured development, the balance of power in junior women's hockey could shift faster than the current rankings suggest.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026?
Hockey Haryana won the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026, defeating Hockey Jharkhand 2-1 in the final held on 23 August 2026 at the Maj. Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium near Pune.
What was the final scoreline between Hockey Haryana and Hockey Jharkhand?
Hockey Haryana won 2-1. Mundri Saroj scored for Jharkhand in the 19th minute, before Bhavya (23') and Khushi (42') scored for Haryana to clinch the title.
Who was named Player of the Tournament?
Sukhpreet Kaur of Hockey Haryana was named Player of the Tournament. Kajal of Hockey Madhya Pradesh won Best Forward, Bhavya of Haryana took Best Defender, and Gargi Barla of Jharkhand was adjudged Best Goalkeeper.
Which team finished third in the championship?
Hockey Madhya Pradesh claimed third place, defeating Chhattisgarh Hockey 3-1 in the third-place playoff. Kajal scored twice off penalty strokes, with Tanvi adding a third goal.
How did Hockey Haryana perform before the final?
Haryana were the dominant team throughout, winning their pool matches 10-1 against Bengal and 3-0 against Odisha, then defeating Chandigarh 3-1 in the quarter-final and thrashing Chhattisgarh 8-0 in the semi-final.
