- 35 teams to compete for the title and will go all out to be declared, THE CHAMPIONS
New Delhi, 21 March 2014: June last year it was Hockey Punjab who emerged the winner for the 3rd season of the Hockey India Junior Men National Championship out of the entire 32 teams which participated in the tournament. With 3 teams getting added to this year’s upcoming edition it will be interesting to see whether Hockey Punjab will be able to defend its title.
The 4th edition of the Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2014 is all set to commence on 24th March 2014 in Chennai. The matches will be played at two venues SDAT Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium and YMCA Nandanam Hockey Stadium. The 35 teams participating this year are divided into two Divisions – A & B. While Division A will have 16 teams in the group, Division B will have 19 teams in their group. Each Division will further be divided into 4 Pools consisting of 4 teams each in Division A and 5 teams each in Pool A B & C of Division B and 4 teams in Pool D within the same Division. The three new teams getting added to this year’s Junior National Championship are Steel Plants Sports Board, Hockey Gangpur-Odisha and Vidarbha Hockey Association.
The matches will be played in a phased manner with Division B first completing its sets of matches and the same will be played from 24th March to 31st March 2014. Teams under Division B will play their matches from 29th March and will go on till 6th April 2104.
The inaugural match of the season will be played between Hockey Mizoram and Steel Plant Sports Board on Pitch 1 and Hockey Puducherry and Hockey Gangpur – Odisha on Pitch 2 under Division B.
Last year Champions Hockey Punjab will play their first match against Chandigarh Olympic Association and which will be played on the inaugural day when Division B kickstarts its journey in the 4th season. Last year’s Runner Up team Hockey Odisha will take on Hockey Karnataka in its first match and they are placed in the Pool B of Division A group in the tournament.
Speaking on the occasion Ms. Elena Norman, CEO, Hockey India said “the 4th season of Junior Men National Championship is all set to commence and hockey fans will continue witnessing a long season of hockey in India. These back to back tournaments will help Hockey India to identify budding talent, who are then groomed for the International arena”.
The schedules of Divison A and B of the 4th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2014 are also attached herewith.
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