Hockey India Junior Men Nationals 2026: Himachal, Uttarakhand, AP, Chandigarh win on Day 1
Synopsis
Chandigarh's 9-2 demolition of Chhattisgarh and Le Puducherry's 10-0 rout of Gujarat were the standout scorelines on an action-packed Day 1 of the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 in Coimbatore, where eight teams across Division B and C opened with wins.
Key Takeaways
The 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 began at Coimbatore Hockey Ground on 29 July 2026 .
Hockey Chandigarh registered the biggest Division B win, beating Chhattisgarh Hockey 9-2 ; Gurpreet Singh scored 5 goals .
Hockey Uttarakhand defeated Kerala Hockey 5-2 , while Hockey Himachal edged Maharashtra 1-0 in Pool A.
Le Puducherry Hockey thrashed Hockey Gujarat 10-0 in Division C's most emphatic result of the day.
Telangana Hockey won 3-0 against Tripura; Goa and Rajasthan drew 3-3 in Division C Pool A.
The 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 got underway at the Coimbatore Hockey Ground on Tuesday, 29 July, with Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Chandigarh all registering victories in Division B. In Division C, Telangana and Le Puducherry also opened their campaigns with wins, while Goa and Rajasthan shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw.
Division B Pool A: Himachal and Uttarakhand Shine
Hockey Himachal edged out Hockey Maharashtra 1-0 in Pool A, with Shubhdeep Singh netting the only goal of the match in the 9th minute. The narrow win reflected a tightly contested contest in which Maharashtra struggled to find the equaliser.
In the same pool, Hockey Uttarakhand put in a commanding performance, defeating Kerala Hockey 5-2. Suraj Kumar scored a brace in the 2nd and 10th minutes, and Ankit doubled up in the 15th and 33rd minutes, with Viraj Choudhary adding a fifth in the 56th minute. Ashique Muhammed (25') and V Sreejith K (57') replied for Kerala.
Division B Pool B: Chandigarh's Nine-Goal Rout
Hockey Andhra Pradesh opened their account with a 2-1 win over Bihar. Chandu Gandi (36') and Ramavath L Kumar Naik (44') scored for Andhra Pradesh, while Kumar Vinay pulled one back for Bihar in the 55th minute.
The day's most emphatic scoreline came from Hockey Chandigarh, who demolished Chhattisgarh Hockey 9-2. Gurpreet Singh was the standout performer, netting five times in the 10th, 13th, 34th, 38th, and 40th minutes. Gurjeet Singh completed a hat-trick in the 39th, 48th, and 51st minutes, and Fateh Singh added a ninth in the 49th minute. Beck Vivek (25') and Mohit Nayak (41') scored for Chhattisgarh.
Division C: Puducherry's 10-Goal Statement, Telangana Impress
In Division C Pool B, Le Puducherry Hockey produced the tournament's most one-sided result of the day, thrashing Hockey Gujarat 10-0. Anbupathi (19', 46') and Illamaran (22', 43') each scored twice, with Vishnuvarathan (25'), Madhavan (35'), Karan K Gagade (40'), Vishva (42'), Rithish (49'), and Gowtham (60') completing the rout.
Telangana Hockey secured a 3-0 win over Tripura in the same pool. Piyush struck twice in the 20th and 27th minutes, with Sanga Sriram adding a third in the 28th minute.
Division C Pool A: Goa and Rajasthan Share Points
A six-goal thriller in Pool A saw Goan Hockey and Hockey Rajasthan finish level at 3-3. Francis Singh (6'), Deekshith H.H (30'), and Nitin (57') scored for Goa, while Mohammad Ubaid Raza (9'), Himanshu Kumar Meena (45'), and Mayank (47') replied for Rajasthan.
With the opening day delivering a high volume of goals and competitive hockey across both divisions, the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship promises to be a closely fought contest as the pool stages progress.
Point of View
And Day 1 scorelines of this magnitude tend to identify the tournament's pace-setters early. Worth watching is whether Uttarakhand's depth — four different scorers in a 5-2 win — translates into consistency, and whether Kerala and Gujarat can recover from heavy opening defeats before the knockout rounds.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 being held?
The tournament is being held at the Coimbatore Hockey Ground in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It began on 29 July 2026.
Which teams won on Day 1 of the Hockey India Junior Men Nationals 2026?
In Division B, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Chandigarh all won their opening matches. In Division C, Telangana and Le Puducherry secured victories, while Goa and Rajasthan drew 3-3.
What was the biggest win on Day 1 of the Junior Hockey Nationals?
Le Puducherry Hockey beat Hockey Gujarat 10-0 in Division C, the tournament's most one-sided result of the day. In Division B, Hockey Chandigarh also impressed with a 9-2 win over Chhattisgarh.
Who were the top scorers on Day 1 of the 2026 Junior Hockey Nationals?
Gurpreet Singh of Hockey Chandigarh scored five goals against Chhattisgarh, while Gurjeet Singh added a hat-trick in the same match. In Division C, Anbupathi and Illamaran each scored twice for Le Puducherry in their 10-0 win.
How is the tournament structured across divisions?
The 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 is divided into Division B and Division C, with teams grouped into pools. Division B features stronger state sides, while Division C includes developing hockey states competing for promotion.
