Hockey Nationals 2026: Odisha Scores 18 Goals
Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2026: Odisha Runs Riot With 18 Goals
Aryan Xess and Sudeep Chirmako score four goals each as Odisha crushes Uttarakhand 18-1, while Chhattisgarh records an 8-0 victory over Assam on the opening day in Jhansi.
The Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2026 began with a spectacular goal fest in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, as the Hockey Association of Odisha delivered an astonishing 18-1 win over Hockey Uttarakhand in Division B. Aryan Xess and Sudeep Chirmako led the attack with four goals apiece, giving Odisha a dominant start to its campaign. Chhattisgarh Hockey also made a strong statement, defeating Assam Hockey 8-0 in another Pool A match. Across Divisions B and C, the opening day featured seven matches, with several teams producing convincing victories while Hockey Rajasthan edged Bihar in a closely contested encounter.
Odisha Hockey Scores 18 Goals Against Uttarakhand
The biggest story of the opening day was Odisha’s relentless attacking performance against Uttarakhand. Odisha scored 18 times, turning the Pool A contest into the tournament’s most emphatic result so far. Aryan Xess and Sudeep Chirmako scored four goals each, while Akash Soreng, Ajay Ekka, Anmol Ekka and Deepak Minz added two goals apiece.
Rohit Kullu, Ritik Lakra and Prasant Barla also found the net, giving Odisha contributions from across its attacking unit. Uttarakhand managed one goal through Vishal Kumar in the 34th minute, but it proved to be only a consolation in an otherwise one-sided match.
Aryan Xess and Sudeep Chirmako Lead Odisha’s Goal Rush
Xess and Chirmako were the standout performers in Odisha’s 18-goal display. Their four-goal hauls helped the team maintain pressure throughout the contest, while the support from six other scorers demonstrated Odisha’s attacking depth.
The result gives Odisha an early boost in Division B, Pool A. However, the team will need to maintain that scoring rhythm against tougher opposition as the championship progresses.
Chhattisgarh Hockey Beats Assam 8-0
Chhattisgarh Hockey also opened its campaign in style, recording an 8-0 victory over Assam Hockey in Division B, Pool A. Vishnu Yadav opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but Chhattisgarh had to wait until the later stages of the first half to build a more commanding lead.
Sandeep Kumar scored twice in the 27th and 40th minutes, while Tarun Yadav struck in the 32nd and 46th minutes. Sonu Nishad completed another brace with goals in the 57th and 60th minutes. Karan Kumar Sahu also scored as Chhattisgarh maintained its attacking intensity until the final whistle.
Sandeep Kumar, Tarun Yadav and Sonu Nishad Deliver Braces
Three Chhattisgarh players scored twice each, making the result a collective attacking achievement rather than a performance built around one individual. Assam, meanwhile, failed to get on the scoresheet and will look to respond in its next fixture.
With Odisha and Chhattisgarh both securing large victories, Pool A began with a clear message: teams that can convert sustained attacking pressure into goals could gain an early advantage in the competition.
Division B Results: DNH & DD and Arunachal Win
In Pool B, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Hockey defeated Goans Hockey 5-1. Nagendra Kumar scored twice, finding the net in the fifth and 36th minutes. Kushal Bopaiah, Sunil Yadav and Mohd Idris also scored for the winners, while Hari Rama registered Goa’s only goal in the 26th minute.
Hockey Arunachal secured a 4-2 win over Telangana Hockey in another Pool B fixture. Telangana made a positive start through Mohd Affan Khan in the sixth minute, but Arunachal responded through Jay Prakash Patel, Premdayal Giri, Ujjwal and Patcha Tharun Kumar. R Aiyappa scored Telangana’s second goal in the 41st minute, but Arunachal held on for the victory.
Division C: Andhra Pradesh Dominates as Rajasthan Survives Late Pressure
Division C also produced contrasting contests. Hockey Andhra Pradesh defeated Hockey Gujarat 8-0, with Hemanth Kumar Dodium Subramanyam scoring a hat-trick in the 26th, 39th and 49th minutes. Nadiminti Akhil added two goals, while Metta Sai Kumar, Lekkala Hitesh Rao, Manchala Bhanuprakash Reddy and Shaik Mohammad Rafi also scored.
Hockey Rajasthan, meanwhile, edged Bihar (BSSA) 3-2 in a much tighter Pool B match. Rajasthan captain Manish Choudhary scored in the 52nd and 58th minutes to help secure the win. Ankit Rawat and Anurag Suthar had also scored for Rajasthan, while Jony Kumar and Md Sidik found the net for Bihar.
Jammu and Kashmir Wins Nine-Goal Thriller Against Himachal
Hockey Jammu and Kashmir defeated Hockey Himachal 6-3 in the highest-scoring Division C match of the day. Gagandeep Singh scored a hat-trick, finding the net in the 11th minute and twice in the 30th minute, while captain Karanjit Singh added two goals.
Kirandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh also contributed to Jammu and Kashmir’s scoring effort. Himachal responded through Piyush, Raj and Hardeep Singh, but could not close the gap.
Hockey Nationals 2026: What Day 1 Revealed
The opening day of the 16th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship produced 51 goals across seven matches, with Odisha’s 18-1 victory setting the pace. Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh also recorded eight-goal wins, while Rajasthan’s narrow victory and Jammu and Kashmir’s nine-goal contest added variety to the results.
The championship began on October 10 in Jhansi and features 29 teams across three divisions, with the tournament scheduled to conclude on October 21. The Division A final will take place on the final day, as teams compete for national honours and the chance to establish themselves among India’s leading state and institutional sides.
For Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, the opening victories provide momentum. The challenge now is to turn those strong starts into consistent performances as the Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2026 continues.
