Jr Women's Hockey Nationals 2026: Karnataka, Bihar, Mizoram win on Day 4
Synopsis
Day 4 of the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026 in Pune delivered big scorelines and a late comeback: Karnataka's captain Manish Ponnamma CD hit a hat-trick in a 6-1 demolition of Uttarakhand, Bihar swept Goans 6-0, and Assam snatched a last-minute 2-1 win over Andhra Pradesh. Division A begins Sunday, raising the tournament's stakes sharply.
Key Takeaways
Hockey Karnataka beat Hockey Uttarakhand 6-1 in Division B, Pool B; captain Manish Ponnamma CD scored a hat-trick.
Hockey Bihar blanked Goans Hockey 6-0 ; Khushi Kumari and Sidhi Kumari each scored twice.
Hockey Mizoram defeated Kerala Hockey 2-0 in Division B, Pool A.
Assam Hockey came from behind to beat Hockey Andhra Pradesh 2-1 , with Tanya Chaurasiya scoring twice in the final minutes.
Hockey Rajasthan and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir were awarded 5-0 forfeit wins.
Division A begins in Pune on Sunday, marking the tournament's most competitive phase.
Hockey Karnataka, Bihar, Mizoram, Assam, Gujarat, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu all claimed victories on Day 4 of the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026 in Pune on 15 August 2026. Action was spread across Divisions B and C, with several commanding scorelines setting up a high-stakes Division A opener on Sunday.
Karnataka and Bihar Dominate Division B, Pool B
Hockey Karnataka produced the day's most emphatic result, hammering Hockey Uttarakhand 6-1 in Division B, Pool B. Captain Manish Ponnamma CD led from the front with a hat-trick, netting in the 19th, 42nd, and 46th minutes. Pearlin Ponnamma A.G. (23rd minute), Meher Kaur Mehta (24th minute), and Vyshnavi Arul (25th minute) added further goals. Upadhayay Kashish pulled one back for Uttarakhand in the 29th minute, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Hockey Bihar were equally ruthless, blanking Goans Hockey 6-0. Sidhi Kumari opened the scoring in the 23rd minute before Khushi Kumari doubled the lead four minutes later. Khushi completed a hat-trick with further strikes in the 37th and 43rd minutes, while Sidhi added a second goal in the 37th minute. Kumari Anjali rounded off the win in the 46th minute.
Mizoram and Assam Advance in Division B, Pool A
Hockey Mizoram kept a clean sheet, defeating Kerala Hockey 2-0. Loicy Laltanpuii gave Mizoram the lead in the 15th minute, with Zothanmawii doubling the advantage in the 29th minute.
Assam Hockey delivered the day's most dramatic comeback, beating Hockey Andhra Pradesh 2-1. Andhra Pradesh had taken the lead through Rajeswari Vydadi Sai Dhana in the 58th minute, but Tanya Chaurasiya struck twice in the closing stages — in the 48th and 60th minutes — to secure all three points for Assam.
Division C Results: Gujarat and UT Side Impress
In Division C, Pool B, Hockey Gujarat defeated Le Puducherry Hockey 3-1. Dhruviba Parmar scored twice, in the 2nd and 35th minutes, while Jadeja Bhavnaba added a third in the 36th minute. R Kareeshma Dass netted Puducherry's consolation in the 27th minute.
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey won Division C, Pool A with a 2-0 victory over Hockey Arunachal. Gupta Shreyanshi and Supriya Chauhan scored in the 45th and 48th minutes respectively.
Forfeit Wins and What Comes Next
Hockey Rajasthan and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir were each awarded 5-0 victories by forfeit over the Tripura Olympic Association and Telangana Hockey respectively. The tournament now enters a critical phase, with Division A set to commence in Pune on Sunday — bringing the top-tier sides into contention and raising the competitive stakes considerably.
Point of View
Bihar — consistently produce structured, high-scoring performances, while smaller associations continue to struggle with even fielding full sides, as the forfeit results show. The arrival of Division A on Sunday will test whether this depth translates against elite competition. The tournament's broader value lies in unearthing talent from states like Mizoram and Assam, whose wins signal a gradual broadening of India's hockey base beyond traditional powerhouses.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on Day 4 of the Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026?
On Day 4, played in Pune on 15 August 2026, Hockey Karnataka, Bihar, Mizoram, Assam, Gujarat, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu all recorded victories across Divisions B and C. Karnataka's 6-1 win over Uttarakhand was the day's biggest result.
Who scored a hat-trick for Hockey Karnataka on Day 4?
Captain Manish Ponnamma CD scored a hat-trick for Hockey Karnataka, netting in the 19th, 42nd, and 46th minutes during their 6-1 win over Hockey Uttarakhand in Division B, Pool B.
How did Assam Hockey beat Andhra Pradesh in the Junior Women's Nationals?
Assam Hockey came from a goal down to beat Hockey Andhra Pradesh 2-1. Andhra Pradesh led through Rajeswari Vydadi Sai Dhana in the 58th minute, but Tanya Chaurasiya scored twice — in the 48th and 60th minutes — to complete the turnaround.
When does Division A begin at the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship?
Division A is set to begin in Pune on Sunday, the day after Day 4's Division B and C fixtures. It marks the tournament's most competitive phase, featuring the top-tier state sides.
Which teams received walkover wins on Day 4?
Hockey Rajasthan and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir were each awarded 5-0 victories by forfeit — over the Tripura Olympic Association and Telangana Hockey respectively.
