Mizoram Hockey Opens Campaign With Clean-Sheet Win
Mizoram hockey made a confident start to the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026, defeating Kerala Hockey 2-0 in a Division B, Pool A encounter in Pune on Saturday, August 15. The victory gave the team three valuable points and a clean sheet as the championship entered its fourth day.
The result was an encouraging beginning to Mizoram’s campaign in the national junior women’s competition. The team maintained control against Kerala and converted its opportunities at crucial moments to secure a comfortable two-goal victory.
The 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship is being held in Pune, Maharashtra, from August 12 to 23. Hockey India’s national tournament schedule lists Pune as the venue for the 12-day competition.
Early Lead Gives Mizoram Control
Mizoram took the lead in the 15th minute when Loicy Laltanpuii found the net. The early goal provided the side with an important advantage and put Kerala under pressure for the remainder of the first half.
Rather than allowing Kerala to build momentum, Mizoram continued to look for openings in attack. Its efforts produced a second goal before the end of the first half, with Zothanmawii scoring in the 29th minute.
The two goals gave Mizoram a 2-0 advantage at the interval. Kerala were unable to respond despite their attempts to create opportunities, while Mizoram’s defence kept the opposition scoreless through the remainder of the match.
The clean-sheet victory was particularly important in a league-format Division B, where every point can influence the final standings and promotion prospects.
Mizoram Hockey Eyes Progress in Pool A
The Mizoram hockey side’s victory came in Division B, Pool A, which also includes Assam Hockey and Hockey Andhra Pradesh. The pool competition is part of Hockey India’s division-based structure, giving teams the opportunity to move up the national championship ladder.
On the same day, Assam recorded a 2-1 comeback victory over Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh took the lead through Rajeswari Vydadi Sai Dhana, but Tanya Chaurasiya scored twice, including a late equaliser and the winning goal, to give Assam all three points.
The results leave the Pool A contest open, with teams competing for a strong position as the league progresses. For Mizoram, the opening win provides an important platform ahead of its next fixtures.
Karnataka, Bihar Record Big Wins
Several other teams also produced notable performances on Day 4 of the championship.
In Division B, Pool B, Karnataka registered the biggest victory of the day by defeating Uttarakhand 6-1. Captain Manish Ponnamma CD was the standout performer, scoring a hat-trick in the 19th, 42nd and 46th minutes.
Pearlin Ponnamma A.G., Meher Kaur Mehta and Vyshnavi Arul also scored for Karnataka, while Upadhayay Kashish netted Uttarakhand’s only goal.
Bihar also enjoyed a commanding outing, defeating Goans Hockey 6-0. Khushi Kumari scored a hat-trick, while Sidhi Kumari and Kumari Anjali also contributed to the comprehensive victory.
In Division C, Gujarat defeated Le Puducherry Hockey 3-1, while Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Hockey beat Hockey Arunachal 2-0. Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir received 5-0 victories after their respective opponents forfeited.
Division A Phase Set to Add Intensity
The championship is being played across three divisions, providing teams with a structured pathway through promotion and relegation. The competition features 30 teams, highlighting the depth of junior women’s hockey in the country.
While Division B and Division C teams are competing in league fixtures, the tournament’s Division A phase is scheduled to begin on Sunday. The top teams will then battle for the national championship, making the coming days increasingly important for all participating sides.
For Mizoram, the 2-0 result over Kerala offers a positive start and valuable momentum. With three points already secured, the team will look to build on its disciplined defensive display and effective first-half finishing in its upcoming Pool A matches.
The opening victory also underlines the growing competitiveness of Mizoram’s women’s hockey programme at the national level. A strong run in Pune could give the young players further experience and help them establish themselves among India’s promising junior hockey talent.