Jr Men Hockey Nationals 2026: Odisha, Punjab, Jharkhand, MP reach semis
Synopsis
Four quarterfinals in Coimbatore on 5 August produced one shootout thriller and three decisive wins, sending Odisha, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh into the last four of the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026. Lelsan Minz's hat-trick and Sahu Prince's shootout heroics were the standout individual moments of a packed quarterfinal day.
Key Takeaways
Hockey Association of Odisha , Hockey Punjab , Hockey Jharkhand , and Hockey Madhya Pradesh qualified for the semifinals on 5 August 2026 in Coimbatore .
Hockey Punjab beat Hockey Karnataka 5–2 ; Hockey Association of Odisha defeated Hockey Haryana 5–1 .
Hockey Jharkhand edged Uttar Pradesh Hockey 4–3 in a shootout after a 3–3 draw in regulation.
Hockey Madhya Pradesh thrashed Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey 7–3 in the highest-scoring match of the day.
Lelsan Minz starred with a hat-trick for Odisha; goalkeeper Sahu Prince was decisive in Jharkhand's shootout win.
Semifinals are scheduled for Thursday : Odisha vs Punjab, and Jharkhand vs Madhya Pradesh.
Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Punjab, Hockey Jharkhand, and Hockey Madhya Pradesh sealed their places in the semifinals of the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 – Division 'A' after four quarterfinal victories in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, 5 August. The results confirm a competitive final-four line-up ahead of Thursday's knockout stage.
Punjab and Odisha Book Berths Convincingly
Hockey Punjab advanced with a commanding 5–2 win over Hockey Karnataka. Ajaypal Singh (22'), Jarman Singh (C) (24'), Sunny (32'), Amandeep (35'), and Gurwinder Singh (60') were on target for Punjab. Kiran Reddy pulled two back for Karnataka in the 21st and 28th minutes, but Punjab were never threatened.
Hockey Association of Odisha were equally dominant, routing Hockey Haryana 5–1. Lelsan Minz was the standout performer, netting a hat-trick in the 15th, 20th, and 46th minutes. Mandeep Kerketta (3') and captain Deepak Pradhan (60') completed the tally, with Prince scoring Haryana's consolation in the 41st minute.
Jharkhand Survive Shootout Thriller Against UP
The most gripping contest of the day saw Hockey Jharkhand edge Uttar Pradesh Hockey in a shootout after a 3–3 draw at the end of regulation. Satyam Pandey (28') and Triloki Venvanshi (33', 50') scored for UP, while Patras Hassa (26'), Bhengra Gledshan (43'), and Nicolas Topno (60') replied for Jharkhand.
In the shootout, Rohit Tirkey, Jolen Topno, Patras Hassa, and Ankit Ekka all converted for Jharkhand, while goalkeeper Sahu Prince produced crucial saves to seal a 4–3 shootout victory. It was the only match of the day that required a tiebreaker.
MP Cruise Past Dadra and Diu in High-Scoring Opener
Hockey Madhya Pradesh opened the quarterfinal day with a high-scoring 7–3 demolition of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey. Subhan Abid (23', 43'), Rajveer Singh (19', 23'), and captain Ritendra Pratap Singh (37', 56') each contributed two goals, with Aashir Aadil Khan adding a seventh in the 41st minute. Sumit Rajbhar (40'), Suraj (47'), and Moohamed Jaeed (52') scored for the losing side.
Semifinal Fixtures on Thursday
The two semifinal clashes are set for Thursday in Coimbatore. Semifinal 1 pits Hockey Association of Odisha against Hockey Punjab, while Semifinal 2 brings together Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Madhya Pradesh. Both ties promise competitive hockey, with all four sides having shown strong attacking form in the quarterfinals.
Point of View
Punjab, and Jharkhand are perennial contenders at this level, reflecting sustained state investment in grassroots infrastructure. Madhya Pradesh's 7–3 rout is the outlier that merits attention: it signals a deepening talent pool in a state that has historically punched below its weight in hockey. The shootout between Jharkhand and UP was the day's most revealing contest — not for the result, but for what it showed about UP's improving pedigree. If that trajectory continues, the traditional top-four hierarchy at junior nationals may face a genuine challenge in the next cycle.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualified for the semifinals of the Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026?
Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Punjab, Hockey Jharkhand, and Hockey Madhya Pradesh qualified for the semifinals after winning their respective quarterfinals on 5 August 2026 in Coimbatore.
When and where are the semifinals being played?
The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Odisha face Punjab in Semifinal 1, and Jharkhand take on Madhya Pradesh in Semifinal 2.
Which was the closest quarterfinal match?
Hockey Jharkhand vs Uttar Pradesh Hockey was the closest contest, ending 3–3 after regulation before Jharkhand won 4–3 in a shootout. Goalkeeper Sahu Prince made crucial saves to seal the result.
Who were the standout individual performers in the quarterfinals?
Lelsan Minz of Odisha scored a hat-trick against Haryana, while goalkeeper Sahu Prince of Jharkhand was decisive in the shootout win over UP. Captain Ritendra Pratap Singh of MP also scored twice in the 7–3 win.
What is the Hockey India Junior Men National Championship Division A?
It is Hockey India's premier national-level tournament for junior men's teams representing state associations. The 2026 edition is the 16th in the series and is being held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
