Ranchi: Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir all registered victories in their respective matches on the opening day of the 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2026, which commenced in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on Wednesday. In Division ‘B’ of Pool A, late goals from captain Dipika (59’) and Bhawna (60’) helped Delhi Hockey register a 2-0 win against Hockey Bengal.
In the other encounter in Division ‘B’ of Pool A, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu Hockey defeated Assam Hockey 4-3. For the winners, Shraddha Verma (3’), Arpita Maurya (7’), Manshi Yadav (12’), and Anushka Gupta (30’) contributed one goal each, while Bhumika Devi (28’), Chayanika Kalita (35’), and Jyoshna Ekka (57’) were the goal scorers for Assam Hockey. In a Division ‘B’, Pool B match, goals from captain Aanchal (13’) and Kafi (60’) helped Hockey Chandigarh beat Hockey Karnataka 2-1. Madiwalappa Basamma was the lone goalscorer for Karnataka. In another Division ‘B’, Pool B match, Hockey Uttarakhand defeated Hockey Himachal 6-3. For the winners, Kareena scored a hat-trick (34’, 45’, 52’), Devyani Joshi scored a brace (25’, 32’), and Katariya Gungun (20’) contributed one goal. Ekampreet Kaur (23’, 41’) and Shanvi Sharma (43’) scored for Himachal. In a Division ‘C’, Pool B match, Hockey Jammu and Kashmir beat Le Puducherry Hockey 3-2 in a close encounter. Akshara Dutta (8’, 44’) scored a brace, and Mauki (4’) contributed one for the winners, while Giraka Gnaneswari (15’) and Boya Shruthi (39’) scored for Le Puducherry.
The tournament will run until 12th April and will be played in the competitive division-based format, which was introduced by Hockey India across national championships last year.
A total of 29 teams will compete across Division ‘A’, Division ‘B’, and Division ‘C’, with promotion and relegation adding intensity to the competition. (IANS)
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