Jr Women’s Hockey Nationals: Jharkhand, Haryana set for grand showdown in final

Pune, Aug 22 (IANS) The stage is set for a thrilling summit clash between Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Haryana in the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026, with both eyeing the coveted national title at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium near Pune on Sunday.

The championship, being held from August 12-23, has witnessed intense competition among leading junior women’s hockey teams from across India. After a hard-fought campaign, Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Haryana have emerged as the two finalists who will battle in the final.

Jharkhand have produced a composed and determined run throughout. Led by captain Rajni Kerketta and coached by Vikas Pant, Jharkhand began with a 6-0 victory over Hockey Chandigarh, followed by a 3-1 win over Hockey Punjab.

Their quarterfinal against Hockey Association of Odisha proved to be a test of character. After the teams finished 1-1 in regulation time, Jharkhand held its nerve to secure a 4-3 victory via shootout.

The semifinal against Hockey Madhya Pradesh was another close encounter. The match ended 1-1 before Jharkhand again displayed exceptional composure in the shootout to win 2-1 and book their place in the final.

Jharkhand’s ability to remain composed under pressure, particularly in back-to-back shootouts, has been one of the defining features of their journey to the final.

Hockey Haryana have been equally impressive, combining attacking firepower with defensive solidity. Led by captain Shashi Khasa and coached by Azad Singh Malik, Haryana opened with a resounding 10-1 win over Hockey Bengal.

They followed it up with a convincing performance, defeating Hockey Association of Odisha 3-0 in their second pool match.

In the quarterfinal, Haryana maintained their momentum with a 3-1 victory over Hockey Chandigarh, before producing an emphatic performance in the knockout stages of the semifinal. Haryana stormed past Chhattisgarh Hockey 8-0 to secure their place in the championship final.

With 24 goals scored and just two conceded across their four matches, Haryana enter the final in formidable form and will be looking to carry their attacking momentum into the title clash.

The final promises a contest between teams who have taken contrasting routes to the summit. Haryana have powered through with emphatic victories, while Jharkhand have showcased remarkable resilience in tight knockout encounters.

With Rajni Kerketta leading Jharkhand and Shashi Khasa at the helm of Haryana, both sides will look to their leaders to inspire one final push for glory.

–IANS

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