Odisha clinch 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 title
Coimbatore, August 10
Hockey Association of Odisha emerged champions of the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 - Division 'A' after defeating Hockey Madhya Pradesh 2-1 in an exciting final held in Coimbatore on Sunday.
The final witnessed an intense battle between two determined sides, with Odisha making a strong start to take an early lead. Mandeep Kerketta opened the scoring in the second minute, giving Odisha an early advantage and putting Madhya Pradesh under pressure, according to a release by Hockey India.
Hockey Madhya Pradesh fought back strongly and continued to create opportunities, but Odisha's defence remained resilient. The match remained closely contested as both teams battled for control in the midfield and looked to create openings in the attacking circle.
Madhya Pradesh eventually found the equaliser through Sohil Ali in the 37th minute, setting up an exciting final quarter. However, Odisha responded with renewed intensity and regained the lead through their captain, Deepak Pradhan, who found the back of the net in the 45th minute.
With the championship title at stake, Madhya Pradesh pushed forward in search of another equaliser in the closing stages. Odisha, however, held their shape and defended resolutely to preserve their 2-1 advantage until the final hooter, the release said.
The victory saw Hockey Association of Odisha crowned champions of the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026.
In the third-place match, Hockey Punjab produced an impressive attacking display to defeat Hockey Jharkhand 6-3 and secure the bronze medal.
Punjab made a strong start, with Gurwinder Singh finding the net in the 11th minute. Jarman Singh, who captained the side, then scored twice in quick succession in the 34th and 36th minutes. Charanjeet Singh added two goals in the 52nd and 53rd minutes, while Ajaypal Singh completed Punjab's tally with a goal in the 41st minute.
Jharkhand fought until the final whistle, with Patras Hassa completing a hat-trick through goals in the 33rd, 40th and 56th minutes. However, Punjab's attacking efficiency ensured they secured a convincing 6-3 victory and finished third in the tournament.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Brilliant comeback by Odisha after MP equalised. The resilience shown by these young players is commendable. Also, Punjab's 6-3 win for bronze shows the depth of hockey talent across India. Hockey is truly thriving at the grassroots!
Mandeep Kerketta scoring in the 2nd minute set the tone. But hats off to Sohil Ali for MP - that equaliser in the 37th minute was top class. Would love to see more tournaments like this getting media coverage. Our junior players deserve more recognition.
The way Odisha's defence held their shape in the final minutes under pressure was textbook stuff. These are the kind of performances that build champions. Also, Patras Hassa's hat-trick for Jharkhand in a losing cause deserves a mention - tremendous individual effort.
Good to see hockey growing beyond the traditional states. Madhya Pradesh reaching the final is a positive sign. But we still need better infrastructure and coaching facilities in smaller towns. Congratulations Odisha - consistent performers as always.
What an exciting final it must have been to watch live in Coimbatore! The atmosphere would have been electric. Odisha's hockey academy system is really paying off - they keep producing quality players year after year. Punjab's Jarman Singh with two goals as captain also impressed. 👏
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