Men’s Senior Hockey Nationals to Feature Division-Based Format Starting April 4
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship will take place from April 4 to 15 at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, featuring a new division-based format similar to the Senior Women National Championship.
Key Takeaways
- 30 teams divided into three divisions.
- Promotion and relegation system introduced.
- Division A features top 12 teams in India.
- Knockout stages in Division A only.
- Consistent points system across divisions.
Jhansi, April 3 (NationPress) The 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship, scheduled from April 4 to 15 at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, will adopt the new division-based format utilized in the recent Senior Women National Championship held in March.
This national competition will include promotion and relegation dynamics, featuring 30 teams split across three divisions: Division A, Division B, and Division C.
Division A represents the top tier, where teams will compete for the championship title. Division B will see teams battling for promotion to Division A next season, while Division C teams aim for a position in Division B for the next edition.
The top 12 teams from India, based on historical tournament performances, comprise Division A. Defending champions Hockey Association of Odisha and runners-up Hockey Haryana are included in this division.
Division A is organized into four pools: Pool A includes Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Punjab, and Hockey Madhya Pradesh; Pool B contains Hockey Haryana, Hockey Maharashtra, and Hockey Jharkhand; Pool C has Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, and Hockey Bengal; Pool D comprises Manipur Hockey, Hockey Karnataka, and Le Puducherry Hockey.
Each team will face every opponent once in their respective pools. This division will feature a knockout stage, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the quarterfinals on April 12, followed by semifinals on April 13, and the final and 3rd/4th place match on April 15. The bottom two teams in Division A will be relegated to Division B for the next edition.
Division B will consist of 10 teams competing for promotion to Division A, divided into two pools.
Pool A: Hockey Chandigarh, Goans Hockey, Telangana Hockey, Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Hockey Uttarakhand.
Pool B: Delhi Hockey, Hockey Mizoram, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Kerala Hockey, Assam Hockey.
The top two teams from Division B will gain promotion to Division A for the next season, while the bottom two will drop to Division C.
Pool A: Hockey Rajasthan, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Jammu & Kashmir, Tripura Hockey.
Pool B: Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Himachal, Hockey Association of Bihar, Hockey Gujarat.
Similar to Division B, teams in Division C will play league matches, with the top two securing promotion to Division B.
The points system across all divisions is consistent: three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss.
In Division A, league matches will lead into knockout rounds, while Divisions B and C will conclude with final standings based on points accrued during the pool matches.
Regarding the tournament, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey commented, “The new format was successful during the senior women’s national championship, and we anticipate similar excitement this time. The promotion and relegation stakes will encourage teams to perform at their best and showcase exceptional hockey.”
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh added, “This tournament is pivotal for identifying emerging talent for upcoming international competitions. The recent domestic tournaments have showcased a high level of hockey, and I am confident that the players will strive to excel amidst fierce competition. We wish all players, coaches, and support staff the best of luck.”
Matches in Divisions B and C will kick off on April 4, while Division A matches are set to begin on April 8.
On the opening day, Hockey Rajasthan will confront Tripura Hockey, Hockey Arunachal will face Hockey Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh Hockey will compete against Hockey Gujarat, and Hockey Himachal will challenge Hockey Association of Bihar in Division C.
Later, in Division B, Hockey Chandigarh will take on Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Goans Hockey will clash with Hockey Uttarakhand, Delhi Hockey will face Hockey Kerala, and the day will conclude with Hockey Mizoram competing against Assam Hockey.
