Lucknow, October 5: Haryana would be the centre of attraction at the 11th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship, starting October 21 in Jhansi under the auspices of the Uttar Pradesh Hockey.
In 2019 edition of the event, SAI emerged victorious, pushing Haryana to the second spot, but in February 2020, Haryana turned the table on SAI, winning the final encounter by 6-0.
In all, 29 teams, excluding SAI, have confirmed their participation. The participating teams include Hockey Haryana, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Hockey Uttarakhand, Goans Hockey, Hockey Gujarat, Chhattisgarh Hockey, Le Puducherry Hockey, Hockey Bihar, Hockey Bengal, Hockey Himachal, Manipur Hockey, Hockey Punjab, Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Chandigarh, Hockey Rajasthan, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Kerala Hockey, Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Delhi Hockey, Telangana Hockey, Assam Hockey, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Andaman & Nicobar, Tripura Hockey, Hockey Jammu & Kashmir.
A fine showing may give players at the national championship to make it to the Indian squad for future. Picture by Hockey India
Hockey Jharkhand will take on Delhi Hockey in the opening match of the championship on October 21 at 7.00 a.m., whereas hosts Uttar Pradesh would begin their campaign against Assam Hockey on the same day at 1.45 p.m.
Uttar Pradesh Hockey have already began preparations for the successful conduct of the championship, final of which would be played on October 30. “We have been making all efforts to make this championship a success. Uttar Pradesh Hockey have consistently been holding national championships in the state,” UP Hockey’s secretary, Dr RP Singh said.
He also said that this is the first time when a national championship is being organized in Jhansi and being the hometown of hockey great Major Dhyanchand, there would be huge support to the event.