Pune: 24 Teams from 15 States Set to Ignite SNBP All-India Hockey Tournament

PUNE, 27 September 2023 : The 7th SNBP All-India Hockey Tournament (Boys’ Under-16) is turning out to be a much-awaited tournament with this year’s edition once again receiving participation from 15 states which by far equals the total number of states that played last year.

Having concentrated on the promotion of grassroot hockey ever since 2016, the S.E Society’s SNBP Group of Institutes’ have continued with their commitment to offer the same total prize money offered in the last edition.

Apart from the boys tournament, eight women’s teams will battle it out for the 5th SNBP All-India Women’s title.

For the record, since last year a whopping Rs. 3.80 lakh have been earmarked for the two tournaments that run simultaneously. The winner of the boy’s event will receive Rs. 1.0 lakh, the runners-up Rs 50,000 and third place Rs 30,000. The girl’s section will have Rs. 75,000 awarded to the winners, Rs. 50000 to the runners-up and Rs. 30,000 to the third placed finisher.

The boys’ tournament begins at the Shiv Chhatrapathi Sports Complex, Balewadi on 1st October September with the final slated for 7th October. Likewise, the women’s event begins on 4th October and will be played at the Dr. Dashrat Bhosale Hockey Ground, Chikhli-Moshi with the final slated for 4th.

The inaugural match will be played in Pool-E with Kolkata Warriors taking on Bhongor Hockey Academy

http://www.punekarnewsmarathi.in/15-states-participated-in-all-india-snbp-competition/

For the record, the tournament holds the status of being the only prize-money hockey tournament conducted for Under-16s and is a categorized Hockey India event. Likewise, the 24-team boy’s event has been divided into eight pools and will battle it out on a league basis for top honours and move into the quarterfinals (knockout stage).

Dr. Vrishali Bhosale, Organizing Chairman & President SNBP Group, said; “Supporting grassroot hockey continues to remain the hallmark of our Group. Women’s hockey holds an equal right in our promotion values and our Group feels strongly about the same and importantly use sport as a platform and empower their talent. It’s heartening to see that the tournament is becoming an eagerly looked forward to event by teams across the country.”

SNBP’s showcase event – the 6th All-India Boys Under-16 will feature 24 teams from across India. Teams will be divided into 8 pools of 3 teams each which will lead to the pool topper advancing to the quarterfinals.

In the league stage each team will play two matches to decide the pool topper. The pool winners will then contest the knockout quarterfinals.

For the record, the tournament is the only tournament to be conducted for Under-16s at an all-India level in the State and city.

This edition the boy’s teams have been drawn from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh (North), Rajasthan, Maharashtra (West); Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, (South) and Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand (East).

Host’s SNBP will be represented by SNBP Academy and will remain the only Pune entry in the championship, with other entries coming in from Nashik and Mumbai respectively.

The winners stand to be richer by Rs. 1,00,000 (1 lakh), while the runners-up would gain Rs. 75,000. The third-place finisher will receive Rs. 50,000.

Meanwhile, the 5th SNBP All-India Women Hockey Tournament will feature eight teams from Maharashtra and will be played on a knockout basis.

The teams for the women segment are Dhyanchand Academy, Hockey Kolhapur, last year’s runners up Hockey Nashik, 2022 third-place finishers Rovers Academy Hockey Jalgaon, SAI Aurangabad, Grassroots Hockey and Solapur Hockey.

Firoz Shaikh, Tournament Convenor explained, “The field is strong with a mix of Academy and school talent together and likewise some past teams who have been part of the top-3 finishers. In all 34 matches, which include 480 players will be seen in action apart from 25 technical officials from Hockey India involved in the tournament. On behalf of SNBP we are thankful to both Hockey Maharashtra and Hockey India for the support extended to make this tournament a success over the years.”

The Championship is being conducted under the aegis of both Hockey India and Hockey Maharashtra.

PAST WINNERS

2016: MP Academy (Winner); Saheed Bishan Singh School, Delhi (Runners Up), Krida Prabodhini (Third Place)

2017: MP Academy (Winner); Krida Prabodhini (Runners Up); Hockey Coorg (Third Place)

2018: Krida Prabodhini (Winner); MP Academy (Runners Up); Bhiwani Jai Bharat Academy, Haryana (Third Place)

2019: MP Hockey Academy (Winner); Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar (Runners Up); SAIL Hockey Academy (Third Place)

2020: Not Held – Covid-19

2021: SAIL Hockey Academy, Odisha (Winner); HAR Hockey Academy, Sonepat (Runners Up); SNBP Academy, Pune (Third Place)

2022: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar (Winner), Dhyanchand Academy (Runners Up), Anwar Hockey Society (Third Place), SNBP Academy, Pune