35 teams to vie at junior Junior Hockey Nationals

By Susil Premalal

A total of 35 teams will compete in the Junior National Under-21 Men’s and Women’s Hockey Championships, conducted by the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation (SLHF) from February 14–17 at the Shalika Grounds in Narahenpita.

A total of 15 teams will participate in the 44th Men’s Junior Nationals, while seven teams will battle it out in the Women’s Tournament.

Kandy HA, Mercantile HA, Gampaha HA, Wennappuwa HA, Sri Lanka Schools HA (Maroon), Galle HA, Combined University HA, Colombo HA, Sri Lanka Schools HA (Gold), Matara HA, Polonnaruwa HA, Matale HA, Uva HA, Ratnapura HA, and Kalutara HA will compete in the Men’s Tournament.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Schools HA (Maroon), Kandy HA, Polonnaruwa Development Team, Matale HA, Combined University HA, Wennappuwa HA, Colombo HA, Sri Lanka Schools HA (Gold), Kalutara HA, and Galle HA will participate in the third Women’s Junior Nationals.

Two junior national pools will be formed based on the performances of the junior nationals in preparation for the junior international hockey tournaments in 2024, SLHF President P. Vishvanathan revealed.