The 4th Hockey India Junior Women Academy Championship 2026 (Zone A & B) gets underway on Friday, 25 July in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, with 12 academy teams from across the country vying for top honours over an 11-day tournament concluding on 3 August 2026. The championship serves as a key grassroots platform for identifying the next generation of Indian women's hockey talent.

Tournament Format and Pool Draw

The 12 teams have been divided into two pools of six. The league stage sees each team face every other side in its pool, with three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. The top two teams from each pool advance to the semi-finals on 2 August, followed by a third-place playoff and the final on 3 August. Tied classification matches are resolved via shoot-out under FIH Tournament Regulations.

Pool A comprises Raja Karan Hockey Academy, Khalsa Hockey Academy (Amritsar), Sports Authority of Gujarat – Hockey Academy, Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society, Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy, and Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy (Sonepat).

Pool B features Ritu Rani Hockey Academy, Vadipatti Raja Hockey Academy, Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta, Mumbai Schools Sports Association, Adyar Hockey Academy, and Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.

Opening Day Schedule

Action on the first day begins at 7:30 AM with Raja Karan Hockey Academy taking on Khalsa Hockey Academy (Amritsar). Sports Authority of Gujarat – Hockey Academy meet Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy (Sonepat) at 9:00 AM, followed by Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society versus Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy at 10:30 AM.

Pool B action starts at 1:30 PM with Ritu Rani Hockey Academy facing Vadipatti Raja Hockey Academy. Mumbai Schools Sports Association play Adyar Hockey Academy at 3:00 PM, and the day closes at 4:30 PM with Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta meeting hosts Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.

What Hockey India Said

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said ahead of the championship, 'The Junior Women Academy Championship has become an important platform in our efforts to strengthen the grassroots development pathway for women's hockey in India. The tournament provides young players with an opportunity to compete against some of the best academy talent in the country while gaining valuable experience in a highly competitive environment. We are confident that this championship will help identify future stars who will go on to represent India at the highest level.'

Hockey India Secretary General Bola Nath Singh added, 'Academies play a vital role in nurturing young players and preparing them for the next stage of their hockey journey. Championships like these not only promote healthy competition but also provide exposure to talented athletes from across the country. We wish all participating teams the very best and look forward to witnessing exciting hockey over the coming days.'

Significance for Indian Women's Hockey

The championship, now in its fourth edition, is part of Hockey India's structured pathway aimed at bridging the gap between academy-level development and senior national representation. With teams drawn from states including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, the field reflects the widening geographic spread of women's hockey infrastructure in India. The semi-finals and final next week will determine which academies have built the most competitive squads heading into the next cycle.