Punjab clinch sub-junior national hockey championship title

Punjab emerged victorious in the 15th Hockey India Sub-Junior Men National Hockey Championship, defeating Jharkhand by 4-3 in a thrilling final held at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Chennai.

The championship saw participation from 30 teams across the country, with Punjab and Jharkhand making it to the final after a series of competitive matches.

The final lived up to expectations with high-intensity action and dramatic twists. Jharkhand took an early lead with goals from Ashish Purti and Anish Dung Dung in the 21st and 24th minutes, putting the score at 2-0. However, Punjab quickly responded — Akshit Salaria scored in the 29th minute, followed by Virender Singh in the 30th, leveling the score at 2-2 by half-time.

Jharkhand once again pulled ahead in the second half when Sukhu Guria found the net in the 42nd minute. But Punjab fought back hard, with Mandeep Singh scoring twice — in the 45th and 53rd minutes — to seal the win and secure the national title.

Akshit Salaria was named Player of the Match for his crucial performance.

Hockey Punjab President Nitin Kohli, General Secretary Amrik Singh Powar and other members of the association congratulated the team on their remarkable achievement and expressed pride in the players’ outstanding performance.