Uttar Pradesh Hockey etched their name in the annals of junior hockey history by defeating Hockey Madhya Pradesh 5-2 in the final of the 16th Hockey India Sub-Junior Men’s National Championship 2026 Division ‘A’ held in Rajgir. This victory not only secured gold but highlighted UP’s journey from underdogs to champions.
From the outset, UP asserted dominance. Captain Ketan Kushwaha opened the scoring with a brilliant field goal at the fourth minute. MP leveled through Ghazi Khan soon after, but UP’s momentum was unstoppable. Nitish Yadav’s penalty corner conversion and Ali Shaharukh’s precise field goal pushed the score to 3-1 by halftime.
The second half saw Rajbhar Prahlad and Chauhan Raghavendra Singh notch further goals, making it 5-1 before Ayush Singh Lodhi pulled one back for MP. UP’s comprehensive performance was built on a flawless campaign: a 17-1 rout of Manipur, 4-0 over Arunachal Pradesh, 6-3 quarterfinal win against Odisha, and a 6-2 semifinal thrashing of Punjab.
Ali Shaharukh’s goal-scoring heroics stood out, underscoring his importance to the team’s success. In the bronze medal match, Punjab prevailed 1-0 over Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu, thanks to Rajveer Singh’s early goal and a rock-solid defensive display. This championship underscores the rising talent in Indian hockey at the sub-junior level, promising a bright future.
