Haryana Clinch Thrilling Victory to Win 16th Hockey India Senior National Championship
Hockey Haryana staged a thrilling comeback to defeat Madhya Pradesh 2-1 and claim the 16th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship title.
In a high-stakes encounter filled with drama and grit, Hockey Haryana emerged as the champions of the 16th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2026. Facing off against a formidable Hockey Madhya Pradesh side in the Division ‘A’ final in Jhansi, Haryana staged a brilliant comeback to secure a 2-1 victory and lift the prestigious trophy.
A Final of Two Halves
The final match began with Madhya Pradesh asserting their dominance. The early momentum shifted in their favor in the 14th minute when Mohammad Zaid Khan found the back of the net with a clinical field goal, giving Madhya Pradesh a 1-0 lead.
However, Haryana refused to buckle under pressure. They fought back in the second quarter, finding an equalizer in the 21st minute. Navraj Singh stepped up to convert a penalty corner, bringing the score to 1-1 and shifting the psychological balance of the game.
As the clock ticked down, the tension mounted with neither side able to break the deadlock. It wasn't until the 50th minute that the stalemate was finally broken. Joginder Singh proved to be the hero for Haryana, scoring the decisive goal from another penalty corner to seal a 2-1 win.
The Road to the Final
Haryana's journey to the gold was marked by resilience. In a nail-biting semi-final clash against Punjab, the two teams played out a 3-3 draw in regulation time. Haryana eventually triumphed 4-2 in a high-pressure shootout to book their place in the final.
On the other side of the bracket, Madhya Pradesh secured their spot in the championship match by defeating Uttar Pradesh with a convincing 5-3 scoreline in their semi-final encounter.
Battle for Bronze: Uttar Pradesh Triumphs
While Haryana celebrated the title, Uttar Pradesh Hockey claimed the third-place spot by defeating Hockey Punjab 3-1. The match was dominated early on by Akash Pal, who scored two field goals in the 15th and 21st minutes to give Uttar Pradesh a comfortable 2-0 lead by half-time.
Punjab attempted a comeback in the second half, with Pawandeep Singh scoring a field goal in the 41st minute to reduce the deficit. However, Chandan Yadav ensured the bronze medal stayed with Uttar Pradesh by converting a penalty corner in the 58th minute.
Final Standings: Division ‘A’
- Champions: Hockey Haryana
- Runners-up: Hockey Madhya Pradesh
- Third Place: Uttar Pradesh Hockey