Sports Desk
5 April
Sandeep Dhand
Journalist & Research Analysist
The Hockey India Senior Men’s National Championship will be held from April 4 to 15 at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium. For the first time, the tournament will be played in a new format featuring three divisions – A, B, and C – with 30 teams competing.
This is the first time a men’s tournament at this stadium will follow the new format, which was earlier introduced in the senior women’s championship. The format includes a promotion and relegation system. Teams in Division A will fight for the championship title, while teams in Division B will aim to move up to Division A in the next season. Similarly, teams in Division C will compete for a spot in Division B for the following championship.
Division B and C matches will begin on April 4, while Division A matches will start from April 8. This structure is expected to make the championship more competitive and exciting, as every team will have a chance to progress or risk moving down.
With this new system, Hockey India aims to improve the standard of domestic hockey and create more opportunities for emerging players and teams across the country.