Senior Women's Hockey Nationals: Defending Champions Haryana to Battle Jharkhand in Final

Synopsis

The final of the 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2025 is set, featuring defending champions Haryana against Jharkhand on Wednesday at the Tau Devi Lal Hockey Stadium, Panchkula, Haryana. Both teams have showcased impressive performances throughout the tournament.

Key Takeaways

Hockey Haryana has shown dominance with four wins and only one goal conceded.
Hockey Jharkhand has proven their strength, particularly in their semifinal shootout victory.
Both teams have standout players crucial to their success, including Captain Rani and Albela Rani Toppo.
The final promises to be a competitive match between two top-tier teams.
The tournament format has added excitement with its division and knockout stages.

Panchkula, March 11 (NationPress) The arena is ready for the highly anticipated 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2025 Final as the reigning champions, Hockey Haryana, take on Hockey Jharkhand this Wednesday at the Tau Devi Lal Hockey Stadium in Panchkula, Haryana.

The revamped format has teams battling it out in three distinct divisions, with Division ‘A’ featuring a knockout stage. After four fiercely contested matches, Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Haryana have emerged as the two best teams in the tournament.

It has been a smooth journey for last year’s titleholders, Hockey Haryana, as they have navigated the tournament with significant victories, only conceding a single goal in four matches. They kicked off their campaign with a dominant 5-1 victory against Hockey Karnataka and secured a 3-0 win over Hockey Association of Odisha in the pool phase.

The quarterfinal against Hockey Punjab presented their greatest challenge thus far, but they triumphed narrowly with a score of 1-0, thanks to a goal from Mahima Choudhary. Their semifinal was much more comfortable, finishing with a decisive 4-0 win over Hockey Mizoram. Captain Rani has been a standout for Hockey Haryana, contributing three goals and leading the team admirably.

Hockey Jharkhand commenced the tournament with an impressive 9-2 victory against Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu. They went on to beat Hockey Mizoram in the pool stage and Hockey Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-finals with a strong 3-1 score. Their semifinal match against Hockey Maharashtra tested their mettle; after a stalemate in regulation time, they clinched a 3-2 win in the shootout, securing their place in the final.

Goalkeeper Anjali Bhinjia played a crucial role, denying three players from Hockey Maharashtra in the shootout. Albela Rani Toppo has also been a key player, currently standing as the tournament's second-highest goalscorer with four goals, and will be eager to add to her tally on the big day.

Reflecting on their journey, Hockey Haryana coach Azad Malik remarked, “I had some concerns about our initial performance due to certain issues, but the team excelled in the semifinal. I hope to see this momentum carry into the final. We aim to play an aggressive style, irrespective of our opponent. Hockey Jharkhand is a formidable team, and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Similarly, Hockey Jharkhand coach Sudhir Golla expressed confidence in his team, stating, “This tournament has been thrilling, filled with challenges and impressive performances. The team has demonstrated remarkable determination, and I am pleased with their performance. In the final, Haryana is a strong contender, and we respect the challenge they pose. Our players are prepared and ready to give their utmost.”

Before the final showdown, Hockey Mizoram will face Hockey Maharashtra in the 3rd/4th place match.