The 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 gets underway in Coimbatore on 28 July 2026, with 30 teams from across India competing across three divisions over 12 days. The tournament concludes on 8 August with the Division 'A' final, where the national champions will be crowned.

Tournament Structure and Divisions

The championship is split into Division 'A', Division 'B', and Division 'C', with promotion and relegation adding competitive stakes beyond the title race. Division 'A' features 12 teams across four pools of three, Division 'B' has 10 teams in two pools of five, and Division 'C' fields 8 teams in two pools.

In Division 'A', Pool A comprises Hockey Haryana, Hockey Madhya Pradesh, and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu. Pool B includes Hockey Association of Odisha, Manipur Hockey, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey. Pool C features Hockey Punjab, Hockey Jharkhand, and Delhi Hockey, while Pool D consists of Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Karnataka, and Hockey Bengal.

Road to the Final

The top two teams from each Division 'A' pool advance to the quarter-finals on 5 August, followed by the semi-finals on 6 August. The bronze medal match and the final are both scheduled for 8 August. The bottom two teams in Division 'A' will be relegated to Division 'B' for the next edition.

In Division 'B', the top two finishers earn promotion to Division 'A', while the bottom two drop to Division 'C'. Division 'C' Pool A features Assam Hockey, Goans Hockey, Hockey Rajasthan, and Hockey Mizoram; Pool B includes Telangana Hockey, Le Puducherry Hockey, Hockey Gujarat, and Tripura Olympic Association. The top two from Division 'C' secure promotion to Division 'B'.

Format and Rules

All pool-stage matches follow a league format — three points for a win, one point for a draw, and none for a loss. In Division 'A' classification matches where a result is required, tied games will be decided by a shoot-out in line with FIH Tournament Regulations.

What Hockey India Officials Said

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey underlined the championship's role in building the sport's talent pipeline. 'The Junior Men National Championship continues to play a crucial role in strengthening India's hockey ecosystem by providing young players with a highly competitive platform to showcase their abilities. Many players who have excelled at this level have gone on to represent the country internationally, and we are confident this edition will once again unearth exceptional talent,' he said.

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh pointed to the structural value of the promotion-relegation format. 'The Junior Men National Championship is an important step in the development pathway for aspiring hockey players across the country. The tournament not only provides valuable match experience but also encourages healthy competition among state teams through the promotion and relegation format,' he said.

Opening Day Schedule

Competition begins on 28 July with Division 'C' fixtures from 6:00 AM: Assam Hockey vs Hockey Mizoram, followed by Goans Hockey vs Hockey Rajasthan at 7:30 AM, Telangana Hockey vs Tripura Olympic Association at 9:00 AM, and Le Puducherry Hockey vs Hockey Gujarat at 10:30 AM. Division 'B' matches start at 12:00 PM with Hockey Maharashtra taking on Hockey Himachal, continuing through the afternoon. Division 'A' fixtures begin on 1 August.