The 4th Hockey India Sub-Junior Women Academy Championship 2026 (Zone A & B) kicked off on Sunday, 27 July 2026, at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, with 15 academies from across India competing for honours in a nine-day tournament that runs through 3 August 2026. The championship is one of Hockey India's flagship grassroots events, designed to give the country's most promising young women players their first taste of high-intensity competitive hockey.

Pool Composition and Format

The 15 participating academies have been divided into four pools. Pool A features Sports Authority of Gujarat – Hockey Academy, Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society, and Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy, Sonepat.

Pool B comprises Sports Hockey Academy of Khalsa's Kolkata, Raja Karan Hockey Academy, R K Roy Hockey Academy, and Mumbai Schools Sports Association. Pool C includes Anantapur Sports Academy, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy, and Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy. Pool D consists of Ritu Rani Hockey Academy, Vadipatti Raja Hockey Academy, Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta, and Cheema Hockey Academy.

Competition Rules and Knockout Stage

Teams play round-robin fixtures within their pools during the league stage, earning three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero for a loss. Where a result is required, tied matches will be settled by a shoot-out in line with FIH Tournament Regulations. The top-ranked side from each pool advances to the semi-finals on 2 August, with the third-place play-off and the final both scheduled for 3 August.

Opening Day Schedule

Action on the opening day began with Sports Authority of Gujarat – Hockey Academy facing Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society at 7:00 am in a Pool A clash. Two Pool B fixtures followed: Sports Hockey Academy of Khalsa's Kolkata met Raja Karan Hockey Academy at 8:30 am, and R K Roy Hockey Academy took on Mumbai Schools Sports Association at 10:00 am.

What Hockey India Officials Said

Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey said ahead of the championship, 'Our Sub-Junior Academy Championship is where we first get to see the future of Indian women's hockey up close. These are players who are still developing their game, and a tournament of this scale gives them the exposure and competitive intensity they need at this crucial stage of their development. As we prepare to witness some exciting hockey action, we wish every participating team the best.'

Hockey India Secretary General Bola Nath Singh added, 'Bringing 15 academies together across four pools speaks volumes about how much our grassroots pipeline for women's hockey has grown. The credit goes to the academies and coaches who have put in their hard work with these young athletes. We thank the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy for hosting this edition and wish every participating team a memorable championship.'

Significance for Indian Women's Hockey

The championship represents a measurable expansion of Hockey India's sub-junior development ecosystem. This is the fourth edition of the tournament, and the field of 15 academies spanning states from Gujarat and Punjab to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal reflects the broadening geographic reach of structured women's hockey at the grassroots level. Notably, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy is both a participating side and the host institution — underscoring the state's growing investment in the sport. The tournament's outcomes will likely inform selection discussions for future national sub-junior squads.