MP, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Manipur and Punjab outfits register easy wins

The 14th edition of Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2024 being held at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, Punjab saw the  Under-20 Hockey Madhya Pradesh (MP), Hockey Chandigarh, Hockey Maharashtra, Manipur Hockey, and Hockey Punjab secure facile wins over their respective opponents in their inaugural round robin Pool league matches on the opening day.

Defending champions Hockey Madhya Pradesh lead by Captain Ali Ahmad defeated Hockey Uttrakhand by a large margin of 9-1 to login maximum three points, while last editions runner’s-up Hockey Chandigarh Hockey Chandigarh captained by Prabhjot Singh too defeated Le Puducherry Hockey 9-2 in a one sided tie. Last editions quarter finalist Hockey Maharashtra too had an easy outing in their tie against Hockey Himachal, winning by a wide margin of 5-0, after scoring a solitary goal in the first half.

Powered by Yumkham Bidyananda Singh five goals and Ningobam Amarjit hat-trick, Manipur Hockey under Adhikarimayum Suresh Sharma leadership recorded the highest margin of win, 15-1 against minnows Goans Hockey on the opening day. On the other hand Hockey Bihar and Hockey Mizoram split points following their 2-2 draw. In the last match of the day, the formidable Hockey Punjab lead by Ujwal Singh proved too be too good for Telangana Hockey in their 7-0 facile win.

This year’s 11-day long tournament as such is witnessing participation of 29 teams from across the country, divided into eight pools, battling it out for the coveted championship, while dishing out exciting brand of stick work on the astroturf

Hockey India (HI) President Dr. Dilip Tirkey while sharing his view on the tourney said, “This tournament is a platform for the future stars of Indian hockey. We are eager to see the best junior talent from across the country compete at the highest level.”

Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General of HI, on the other hand added, "The 14th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship is a critical part in our efforts to nurture young talent. We anticipate a fiercely competitive tournament that will bring out the best in these young players.”

Result (1st round-robin league matches):

Pool A: Hockey Madhya Pradesh 9 (Zameer Mogammad (9’, 40’), Ali Ahmad (5’), Tushar Parmar (12’), Almaaz Khan (15’), Sohil Ali (34’), Parochey Kartikey (53’), Saddam Ahmad (53’) and Mohd Anas (56’)) beat Hockey Uttrakhand 1 (Arpit Kumar Kohli (52’). (HT 4-0)

Pool B: Hockey Chandigarh 9 (Harpreet Singh (8’, 57’), Sukhpreet Singh (14’, 27’), Komalpreet Singh (32’, 53’), Gurpreet Singh (36’), Gurkirat Singh Othi (55’), Captain Prabhjot Singh (59’)) beat Le Puducherry Hockey 2 (Ayothidasan (43’) and Gurudatt Gupta (52’). (HT 2-0).

Pool E:  Hockey Bihar 2 (Lama Shanu (20’, 58’)) drew Hockey Mizoram 2 (Ranjan Gond (29’) and Ali Abbas (43’)). (HT 1-1); Hockey Punjab 7 (Sukhwinder Singh (28’, 53’), Ujwal Singh (14’, 54’), Harshdeep Singh (30’), Jobanpreet Singh (58’), Jarman Singh (60’)) beat Telangana Hockey 0. (HT 3-0).

Pool G: Hockey Maharashtra 5 (Joseph Anthony Domingo (6’), Jay Kale (39’), Kartik Ramesh Patare (46’), Amin Pranav (49’), Sachin Rushi Rajgade (52’)) beat Hockey Himachal 0 (HT 1-0); Manipur Hockey 15 (Yumkham Bidyananda Singh (5’, 38’, 43’, 53’, 55’), Ningobam Amarjit Singh (18’, 49’, 51’), Silheiba Lisham (28’, 53’), Adhikarimayum Suresh Sharma (15’), Ningthoujan Rohit Singh (20’), Irengbam Rohit Singh (31’), Gurumayum Dingkun Sharma (52’), Uttam Singh (60’) beat Goans Hockey 1 Suresh Lamani (59’).  (HT 5-0).