The 4th Hockey India Junior Women Academy Championship 2026 (Zone A & B) is set to begin on 24 July in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, bringing together 12 of the country's top junior women's hockey academies in an 11-day tournament that concludes on 3 August. The championship is widely regarded as a key grassroots pipeline for identifying the next generation of Indian women's hockey talent.

Tournament Format and Pool Composition

The 12 participating academy teams have been split into two pools of six each. Pool A features 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 comprises 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.

Each team will play all others in its pool during the league stage. The top two teams from each pool advance to the semi-finals on 2 August, with the third-place playoff and the final both scheduled for 3 August. Teams earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero for a loss. Tied classification matches will be resolved by a shoot-out under FIH Tournament Regulations.

Opening Day Schedule

Action on 24 July opens at 7:30 AM with Raja Karan Hockey Academy facing Khalsa Hockey Academy (Amritsar), followed by Sports Authority of Gujarat – Hockey Academy against Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy, Sonepat, at 9:00 AM. Hockey Family Badhkhalsa NCR Hockey Society meets Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy at 10:30 AM.

Pool B gets underway at 1:30 PM when Ritu Rani Hockey Academy takes on Vadipatti Raja Hockey Academy. Mumbai Schools Sports Association face Adyar Hockey Academy at 3:00 PM, and the day concludes at 4:30 PM with Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy Bhagta up against hosts Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.

What Hockey India Officials Said

Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey said the championship 'has become an important platform in our efforts to strengthen the grassroots development pathway for women's hockey in India,' adding that it gives young players 'an opportunity to compete against some of the best academy talent in the country while gaining valuable experience in a highly competitive environment.' He expressed confidence that the event would 'help identify future stars who will go on to represent India at the highest level.'

Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bola Nath Singh noted that 'academies play a vital role in nurturing young players and preparing them for the next stage of their hockey journey,' and said championships of this nature 'provide exposure to talented athletes from across the country.'

Significance for Indian Women's Hockey

This is the fourth edition of the championship, reflecting Hockey India's sustained push to formalise academy-level competition for women. The tournament draws academies from geographically diverse states — Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh — underlining the broadening base of women's hockey infrastructure across India. Notably, the Gwalior edition marks the first time Madhya Pradesh hosts the Zone A & B combined championship, giving local academy players home-ground exposure at a national level.

With semi-finals and the final all set for the tournament's closing weekend, the coming days will determine which academies emerge as the country's strongest junior women's hockey programmes in 2026.