Hockey India Sub Junior West Zone Championship Begins Tomorrow
Surat to Host 13 Teams Competing for Top Honors from July 23-30
Surat - The second Hockey India Sub Junior Men and Women West Zone Championship 2024 is set to begin on Tuesday at the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Hockey Ground in Surat, Gujarat. The tournament, which will run until July 30, will feature 13 teams—seven men's teams and six women's teams—competing for the top honors.
In the women's category, teams from Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Rajasthan, Hockey Gujarat, and Goa Hockey will compete in a round-robin format. The top two teams will advance to the final.
The men's category is divided into two pools. Pool A includes Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Maharashtra, and Hockey Rajasthan, while Pool B comprises Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu Hockey, Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Gujarat, and Goa Hockey. The top four teams from the group stage will proceed to the semi-finals on July 29.
The championship will kick off with matches between Hockey Madhya Pradesh and Goa Hockey in the women's category. This will be followed by clashes between Hockey Maharashtra and Hockey Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh Hockey and Hockey Gujarat. In the men's category, Chhattisgarh Hockey will face Goa Hockey, followed by Hockey Rajasthan against Hockey Maharashtra.
Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey highlighted the importance of the championship, stating, "The aim of the Sub Junior Zonal Championship is to bring out talent from the far corners of the country by providing professional hockey experience to children at an early age. Thirteen teams are going to participate in Surat, and we hope that over time, players from this region will become stars of the sport."
Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh emphasized the holistic development of young players, saying, "It is imperative to provide a holistic experience to the youth to ensure their all-round development. The Sub Junior Zonal Championship in Surat will give players realistic game time, which will help them get acquainted with the pressure of an athlete. I am sure that players who adapt to this environment will shine on the big stages."
