The Ashmita Hockey League (Junior and Sub-Junior Girls) is set to commence on March 22 at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar. The tournament, which will run until March 27, is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Government of India), the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Hockey India, and Hockey Punjab.
Providing details about the event, Nitin Kohli, President of Hockey Punjab, and Amarjit Singh Puar, General Secretary of Hockey Punjab, stated that this is the first time Punjab is hosting the league as part of an initiative by the Sports Authority of India and the Ministry of Sports to promote women’s hockey in the country. The Ashmita Hockey League is a nationwide scheme covering eight states, including Punjab, to support the growth of women’s hockey at the grassroots level.
Cash Prizes for Top Teams
The league will feature 8 teams each in the Junior and Sub-Junior categories, representing different districts of Punjab. Players born on or after January 1, 2006, will compete in the Junior category, while those born on or after January 1, 2009, will play in the Sub-Junior category. The tournament will follow a league-cum-knockout format.
To encourage young talent, significant cash prizes have been announced:
- ₹2 lakh each for the winning teams in both categories
- ₹1.6 lakh each for the runner-up teams
- ₹1.2 lakh each for the third-place teams
Inauguration and Key Dignitaries
The league’s opening ceremony will take place on March 22 at 1:00 PM, with Bhola Nath Singh, General Secretary of Hockey India, officiating the event. J. Shekhar Manoharan, Treasurer of Hockey India, will preside over the ceremony.
The Ashmita Hockey League is expected to provide a strong platform for young female players in Punjab, fostering the next generation of hockey talent in India.