Times of India: Saifai, Bangalore to host senior men and women National hockey

NEW DELHI: The sixth Hockey India Senior National Championships 2016 for men will be held in Saifai, Uttar Pradesh while the women’s completion will be hosted by Bangalore.

The senior men’s competition will be held from April 11 to May 1, while women’s event will take place from April 19 to May 1.

The junior division matches would be held at Raipur from April 12 to 24 for the men’s teams while Ranchi would host the women’s event from April 24 to May 8.

Besides, the sub-junior division women’s competition will be played in Guwahati and Nagaon from January 29 to February 16 while Imphal will host the men’s event from May 6 to 22.

The tournaments are an annual event featuring the best hockey players across India in the senior, junior and sub-junior categories.

Speaking on the occasion, Hockey India Secretary General Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said, “I am delighted and eager for the action to begin in the 6th Hockey India National Championships from January 2016. These championships have brought forward the future stars of Indian hockey and its nothing less than an honour to see how youngsters from all corners of the country are working hard towards making a career for themselves in the sport. I am confident that the national championships next year are going to unearth some bright future stars for Indian hockey.”

Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) will defend their titles in both the senior men and women categories.
Similarly, Hockey Odisha will defend the junior men title while Hockey Haryana would be fighting to retain their junior Women crown.

Hockey Odisha and Hockey Punjab would be defending the sub-junior men and women titles respectively.