The 14th Senior National Men’s Hockey Championship, scheduled from November 4 to 16 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai, will see a notably different lineup this year. Unlike previous editions, most top-tier players from the Indian national team, including Harmanpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas, will not participate. However, Olympic players Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Rajkumar Pal, and Nilakanta Sharma will represent their respective state teams. This shift comes ahead of the anticipated relaunch of the Hockey India League (HIL) in December.
Absence of Big names at Hockey Nationals
While the absence of several senior national players might appear to impact the tournament’s competitive edge, it opens up opportunities for emerging talent to take the spotlight. India’s head coach, Craig Fulton, is set to attend parts of the championship alongside national selectors, who will be keenly observing fresh talent as the tournament serves as a crucial platform before the HIL 2024-25 season begins on December 24.
Championship details and structure
The tournament will feature 31 state teams and a total of 620 players, with 53 matches scheduled in a knockout format. Divided into eight groups, only the top team from each pool will progress to the quarterfinals after a single round-robin phase. Defending champions Punjab and runners-up Haryana remain strong contenders despite missing some key national players.
- Date: November 4-16, 2024
- Venue: Mayor Dr Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Chennai
- Teams: 31 state teams across 8 pools
- Matches: 53
- Total Players: 620
Strong Contenders and Key Teams at Hockey Nationals
The defending champion, Punjab, and last year’s runner-up, Haryana, will still be formidable forces, even without their star players. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, featuring Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Rajkumar Pal, stands out as a powerful contender. Host Tamil Nadu, which took third place last season, brings in S. Karthi, who competed in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023, under head coach Charles Dixon and assistant coach Muthukumaran. Tamil Nadu’s team president, Sekar J Manoharan, shared high expectations:
“The team has been practising with a camp for the tournament for the past 45 days. We hope to be on the podium as we have trained hard.”
Observing India Hockey future stars
Tamil Nadu Hockey Unit president, Sekar, highlighted the significance of the championship for scouting potential players for national teams. National selectors Mohammed Riaz and M.M. Somaya will attend the tournament to evaluate young players. According to HUTN Secretary P. Senthil RajKumar:
“The tournament offers a unique opportunity to witness the next generation of Indian hockey players. As the sport continues to evolve, this championship promises to be a thrilling showcase of skill, passion, and the future of Indian hockey.”
Tournament Pools for India Hockey Nationals
The teams are organised into pools as follows:
- Pool A: Punjab, Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu, Chhattisgarh
- Pool B: Haryana, Telangana, Himachal, Mizoram
- Pool C: Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar
- Pool D: Karnataka, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Tripura
- Pool E: Odisha, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Arunachal
- Pool F: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir
- Pool G: Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat
- Pool H: Manipur, Bengal, Bihar, Assam
Livestream Information of India Nationals Hockey
All matches of the Senior Men’s National Championship 2024 will be live-streamed on the Hockey India YouTube channel and the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu app, allowing fans to witness the action and follow their favourite teams and players.
This year’s Nationals will be an invaluable platform for emerging talent to make their mark in the absence of several international players. The presence of selectors and Coach Fulton ensures that standout performers will be in the spotlight, giving fans a taste of India’s future in hockey as they prepare for the HIL season.
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