Hockey India Unveils 'Promotion and Relegation Framework' for Senior Women's Nationals

New Delhi, Feb 28 (NationPress) Hockey India revealed on Friday that the upcoming 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2025, scheduled from March 1 to 12 at the Tau Devi Lal Hockey Stadium in Panchkula, will adopt a new structure incorporating a promotion and relegation framework, which introduces an additional level of competitiveness to the tournament.

The 2025 edition of the championship will feature 28 teams classified into three divisions: Division A, Division B, and Division C. This innovative format not only boosts the competitive spirit but also enables teams to either elevate to higher divisions or face relegation depending on their performance.

The top 12 teams, including the reigning champions Hockey Haryana, will vie in Division A for the prestigious championship trophy. The teams are divided into four pools:

Pool A includes Hockey Haryana, Hockey Association of Odisha, and Hockey Karnataka, while Pool B features Hockey Maharashtra, Manipur Hockey, and Hockey Punjab.

Pool C consists of Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Mizoram, and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, whereas Pool D includes Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh Hockey.

Each team will engage in a league format within its respective pool. The top two teams from each pool will move on to the quarterfinals, set for March 9, followed by the semifinals on March 10, and the final along with the 3rd/4th place play-off on March 12.

The winner will take home the National Championship 2025 trophy, while the bottom two teams will be relegated to Division B for the next season.

Nine teams will compete in Division B, aiming for promotion to Division A.

The teams are divided into two pools; Pool A consists of Telangana Hockey, Hockey Uttarakhand, Assam Hockey, Hockey Rajasthan, and Hockey Association of Bihar. Pool B features Delhi Hockey, Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Chandigarh, and Hockey Himachal.

The top two teams from Division B will gain promotion to Division A for the next season, while the bottom two will be relegated to Division C. No knockout rounds will be conducted in Division B; the league standings will dictate promotions and relegations.

Seven teams in Division C will compete for promotion to Division B. The teams are divided into two pools. Pool A: Kerala Hockey, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey, Hockey Gujarat.

Pool B: Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Le Puducherry Hockey, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Jammu and Kashmir.

Similarly, teams in Division C will engage in league matches, with the top two teams securing promotion to Division B.

During the league stage, teams across all three divisions will accumulate points based on their performance. Each team will earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss.

In Division A, the league stage will culminate in knockout rounds, while Divisions B and C will conclude with final standings based solely on league matches.

Matches in Division A, Division B, and Division C will be conducted simultaneously throughout the tournament, promising an uninterrupted display of hockey.

Commenting on the new format, Dilip Tirkey, president of Hockey India stated, “The launch of the promotion and relegation system marks a crucial step in elevating the standard of hockey nationwide. It guarantees that every match in the championship bears significance, whether it’s a contest for the title or a struggle to evade relegation. We anticipate an exhilarating tournament where teams can exhibit their talents and strive for the pinnacle.”

Bhola Nath Singh, secretary-general of Hockey India added, “This alteration in format not only heightens the stakes but also fosters healthy competition among the teams. We eagerly await the tournament's progression with this new structure and are confident that it will result in more competitive and thrilling matches at every stage.”