UT side beats Arunachal; Karnataka, Bihar and Mizoram post emphatic wins
Pune, Maharashtra — The 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship produced a string of one-sided results on Saturday as several state and union territory teams advanced their prospects in the early stages of the tournament. In Division C, Pool A, the Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu junior women’s team secured a 2-0 victory over Hockey Arunachal, while matches in Division B saw commanding displays from Karnataka, Bihar and Mizoram.
The combined UT side’s win over Arunachal came in a low-scoring fixture that nonetheless boosted their position in Pool A. The result gives the team vital momentum as the competition progresses and places them favourably among other Division C contenders.
Division B saw a number of lop-sided scorelines. Hockey Karnataka overwhelmed Hockey Uttarakhand 6-1 in Pool B, powered by a hat-trick from captain Manish Ponnamma C.D. Other contributors added to Karnataka’s tally in a display that underlined their attacking depth.
Hockey Bihar produced another high-scoring performance, blanking Goa 6-0 in Division B’s Pool B fixtures. The winning side benefitted from a multi-goal showing by Khushi Kumari, who completed a hat-trick, while Sidhi Kumari and Kumari Anjali were also on the scoresheet.
Hockey Mizoram edged past Kerala Hockey 2-0 in Division B, Pool A. Assam Hockey recorded a narrow 2-1 win over Hockey Andhra Pradesh in the same pool, signalling competitive balance at the top of Division B groups.
Elsewhere in Division C, Hockey Gujarat beat Le Puducherry Hockey 3-1 in Pool B. The tournament organisers additionally awarded 5-0 forfeit victories to Hockey Rajasthan and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir in separate fixtures.
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 2-0 Hockey Arunachal — Division C, Pool A
- Hockey Karnataka 6-1 Hockey Uttarakhand — Division B, Pool B
- Hockey Bihar 6-0 Goans Hockey — Division B, Pool B
- Hockey Mizoram 2-0 Kerala Hockey — Division B, Pool A
- Assam Hockey 2-1 Hockey Andhra Pradesh — Division B, Pool A
The championship, being held in Pune, will move into another phase on Sunday when Division A fixtures are due to begin. Tournament officials have scheduled the higher-tier matches to showcase the country’s leading junior talent ahead of national selections later in the year.
| Division | Pool | Notable Result |
|---|---|---|
| Division B | Pool B | Karnataka 6-1 Uttarakhand |
| Division B | Pool B | Bihar 6-0 Goa |
| Division C | Pool A | DNH & DD 2-0 Arunachal |
Coaches and team officials have emphasised that early-round results can set the tone for group-stage qualification, but warned against reading too much into single-match scorelines given the compressed tournament schedule and rotating line-ups. Younger squads often use the national championship both as a competitive platform and a development opportunity for players moving up from state-level ranks.
For the Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu contingent, the win is particularly important as they aim to consolidate their position among Union Territory and smaller-state teams in Division C. Tournament structure allows teams that finish top of their pools to advance and test themselves against higher-ranked opposition in later rounds.
Organisers have confirmed that Division A fixtures will commence on 16 August, bringing the top-tier junior state sides into action. Fans and talent scouts are expected to focus on those matches for indications of players likely to progress to senior national camps.
The championship provides a platform for emerging players across India and is closely watched by state associations and Hockey India’s development panels. With several matches still to be played in Divisions B and C, outcomes over the next few days will clarify which teams move forward in the competition.
