Jharkhand to host Jawaharlal Nehru State Hockey from Aug 17 with 1,152 players across 3 categories

Jharkhand will host the State-Level Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament 2025–26 from August 17 to 19. A total of 1,152 players from all districts will compete, along with 24 coaches and 24 managers. The tournament will have matches in three categories — Under-15 Boys, Under-17 Girls, and Under-17 Boys. Each district will be represented by 16 players, one coach, and one manager. Matches will be conducted in a league-cum-knockout format, following the rules of the Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society.

Preparations for the tournament have been completed, and arrangements were reviewed in a meeting chaired by Organising Secretary Dhirsen Soreng. He directed officials to ensure proper facilities for players, including food, healthcare, and accommodation. The event will be held under the supervision of the School Education and Literacy Department of Jharkhand.

District-level matches concluded last month, determining the teams that will participate in the state-level stage. Winners in each category will qualify to represent Jharkhand in the national-level Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament. Before the nationals, these teams will undergo a 21-day special training camp aimed at enhancing their performance.

The national competition is scheduled to be held in Delhi in October 2025. Jharkhand has a strong record in the tournament, having secured the national championship title 10 times. The state’s last win came in 2023 at the event held in Mizoram, where the Under-17 Girls team from CM School of Excellence, Bariatu, claimed the title.

According to official records, this is one of the largest school-level hockey tournaments in the state in terms of participation. The matches are expected to feature teams from all 24 districts of Jharkhand, making it a key event in the state’s sports calendar for 2025.