Jr Women's Nationals: Hockey Mizoram Surge To Top Spot; Tamil Nadu Climb To Third In Div ‘B’

Jr Womens Nationals: Hockey Mizoram surge to top spot; Tamil Nadu climb to third in Div ‘B’ (Image Source: IANS)

Hockey India Junior Women National: Hockey Mizoram registered their second win in their pool to strengthen their chances of topping their pool, while Hockey Tamil Nadu scored their first win in their pool to move off the bottom place and into third position in Division ‘B’ of the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026 at the Maj. Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium, in Pune on Friday.

With two matches scheduled for the day, Pool ‘A’ saw Hockey Mizoram score a 3-1 win over Delhi Hockey in the championship, hosted by Hockey Maharashtra in association with the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

The scorers for Mizoram were Topro Rilen (18’), Al Rawngbawl Esther (34’) and Anjana Xaxa (51’). Delhi Hockey pulled one back late through Dipika (58’) and continued to be placed at the bottom.

As a result, Hockey Mizoram topped Pool ‘A’ followed by Hockey Andhra Pradesh with two wins each and six points each.

In Pool ‘B’, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu scored their first win, scoring a 4-0 verdict over Goans Hockey. The win helped Tamil Nadu move into third place in the pool, while Goans Hockey continue to be last.

Tamil Nadu scored a goal each by Gopika R (11’), Priyadharshini K (18’), Swathi Sharma S (53’) and Thamaraiselvi P (58’) to make their tally. Goa could not score.

Earlier on Thursday, Le Puducherry Hockey, Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Assam Hockey and Hockey Karnataka secured victories, while Hockey Uttarakhand and Hockey Bihar played out a draw. Three matches were also decided by forfeit.

Le Puducherry Hockey edge past Hockey Jammu & Kashmir

In a Division ‘C’, Pool B encounter, Le Puducherry Hockey registered a 3-1 victory over Hockey Jammu & Kashmir. Manjinder led the scoring for Le Puducherry Hockey with a hat-trick, finding the back of the net in the 22nd, 31st and 46th minutes.

Hockey Jammu & Kashmir pulled one goal back through Devi Sonali in the 6th minute, but Le Puducherry Hockey held firm to secure all three points.

In Division ‘B’, Pool A, Hockey Andhra Pradesh edged past Delhi Hockey 2-1 in a closely fought contest.

Rajeswari Yadav Sai Dharna opened the scoring for Hockey Andhra Pradesh in the 19th minute, while Anikha Bennu doubled the advantage in the 30th minute. Delhi Hockey responded through NIGHTO Nisha, who scored in the 33rd minute, but Andhra Pradesh maintained their lead to claim the win.

Results:

Division B, Pool ‘A’: Hockey Mizoram: 3 (Topro Rilen 18’, Al Rawngbawl Esther 34’, Anjana Xaxa 51’) beat Delhi Hockey: 1 (Dipika 58’). HT: 0-0.

Division B, Pool ‘B’: Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu: 4 (Gopika R 11’, Priyadharshini K 18’, Swathi Sharma S 53’, Thamaraiselvi P 58’) beat Goans Hockey: 0. HT: 2-0.

Division B, Pool ‘A’: Hockey Mizoram: 3 (Topro Rilen 18’, Al Rawngbawl Esther 34’, Anjana Xaxa 51’) beat Delhi Hockey: 1 (Dipika 58’). HT: 0-0.

Division B, Pool ‘B’ Hockey Karnataka: 2 (Lakshmi 43’ - p.s; Manish Ponnamma Cd 50’) bt Hockey Bihar: 1 (Sidhi Kumari 17’ - p.c). HT: 0-1

Article Source: IANS