Pune, Aug 2026 : Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Haryana will lock horns in what promises to be an exciting summit clash of the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026 at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium near Pune on Sunday, with both teams determined to lift the coveted national title.
The championship, being held from August 12 to 23, has brought together some of the country’s leading junior women’s hockey teams. After a fiercely contested campaign, Jharkhand and Haryana have emerged as the two strongest sides and will now battle for supremacy in the final.
Hockey Jharkhand have displayed remarkable composure and determination throughout the tournament. Under the leadership of captain Rajni Kerketta and head coach Vikas Pant, the team began its campaign with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Hockey Chandigarh before defeating Hockey Punjab 3-1.
Their quarterfinal against Hockey Association of Odisha proved considerably more challenging. The two sides remained locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time, forcing the contest into a shootout. Jharkhand held their nerve to prevail 4-3 and advance to the semifinals.
The semifinal against Hockey Madhya Pradesh followed a similar pattern. After another tightly fought encounter ended 1-1, Jharkhand once again demonstrated their ability to handle pressure in the shootout, securing a 2-1 victory to book their place in the final.
Their repeated success in high-pressure shootouts has emerged as one of the defining features of Jharkhand’s campaign. The team will now hope that its resilience and ability to remain composed in crucial moments can help it overcome Haryana in the title clash.
Hockey Haryana, meanwhile, have reached the final in emphatic fashion, combining an aggressive attacking approach with a disciplined defence. Led by captain Shashi Khasa and coached by Azad Singh Malik, Haryana began their campaign with a commanding 10-1 win over Hockey Bengal.
They continued their impressive run with a 3-0 victory against Hockey Association of Odisha in their second pool match. In the quarterfinal, Haryana defeated Hockey Chandigarh 3-1 before producing their most dominant performance in the knockout stage.
Haryana overwhelmed Chhattisgarh Hockey 8-0 in the semifinal to secure their place in the championship decider. Across their four matches, Haryana have scored an impressive 24 goals while conceding just two, underlining their attacking strength and defensive organisation.
The final will therefore bring together two teams that have followed contrasting paths to the summit. Haryana have relied on their attacking firepower and commanding victories, while Jharkhand have shown exceptional resilience in closely contested knockout matches.
With Rajni Kerketta leading Jharkhand and Shashi Khasa captaining Haryana, both sides will look to their respective leaders for inspiration in the decisive encounter. The championship final is expected to provide a fitting conclusion to a tournament that has showcased the talent, determination and competitive spirit of India’s emerging women hockey players.
