Haryana and Manipur Set to Launch National Women’s Hockey Final Phase on Tuesday

Synopsis

The final phase of the inaugural National Women’s Hockey League 2024-25 kicks off on March 18 in Ranchi, featuring eight top state teams in a round-robin format. Matches span from March 18 to 28, culminating in the crowning of the champion.

Key Takeaways

The National Women’s Hockey League 2024-25 begins on March 18.
Eight state teams are competing in a round-robin format.
Matches will take place at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh AstroTurf Hockey Stadium.
Teams earn points for wins and draws to determine the champion.
Hockey Haryana topped Phase 1 with 16 points.

Ranchi, March 17 (NationPress) The concluding phase of the inaugural National Women’s Hockey League 2024-25 is about to begin on March 18 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh AstroTurf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. This U-21 Women’s tournament will feature eight of the nation’s premier state teams competing for the championship in a round-robin league format from March 18 to 28.

The participating teams include Hockey Haryana, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Bengal, Hockey Mizoram, Manipur Hockey, and Hockey Association of Odisha.

This tournament will feature a single pool system, with each team playing against all others once. A victory will earn three points, while a draw will yield one point. The team at the top of the points table after the league matches will be declared the champion of this prestigious domestic event.

In the first phase, held last year, Hockey Haryana secured the top spot with 16 points from seven matches, followed closely by Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Association of Odisha, who were just one point behind in second and third positions, respectively.

Dilip Tirkey, President of Hockey India, expressed, "We are thrilled to witness young athletes compete at such a high level. It is essential for youngsters to participate in domestic tournaments throughout the year for their development. I wish all players and coaches the best and hope for some thrilling matches showcasing emerging talents. We recently observed an excellent level of hockey at the Senior Women National Championship, and I anticipate similar performances from the junior players as well.”

In agreement, Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General of Hockey India, said, "It will be fascinating to discover which team clinches the title in this inaugural National Women's Hockey League. Consistency is crucial in league tournaments, and the team that performs well across all seven matches is likely to win. Best of luck to all the participating teams; I encourage everyone to give their best effort on the field.”

The opening match will feature Hockey Haryana against Manipur Hockey on March 18, followed by matches between Hockey Association of Odisha and Hockey Bengal, and Hockey Madhya Pradesh versus Hockey Maharashtra.

The day will conclude with Hockey Jharkhand taking on Hockey Mizoram at 6:30 PM IST.