SNBP All India Hockey adds 9 new teams

Pune, 23rd September, 2025: Nine first-time teams will join hands with sixteen others, including last year’s winners Punjab based Round Glass Hockey Academy and runners-up Army Sports Boys Company from Bangalore, in the 9th SNBP All India Hockey Tournament (Boys’ Under-16) which gets underway at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mahlunge–Balewadi from October 1 to 10, 2025.

The tournament organised by SNBP Group of Institutes under the aegis of Hockey India and Hockey Maharashtra will have 24 teams, which includes new comers, United Thalassery Sports Club (UTSC ), Kerala; Friends Hockey Association, Vizag; Sangrur Hockey Academy, Punjab; Tripura Grassroot Hockey, Tripura; Infinity Hockey Academy, Andhra Pradesh; Veer Hockey Academy, Uttarakhand; Kohinoor Hockey Academy, Uttar Pradesh; (NDMC) Hockey Academy, New Delhi; Grass Root Hockey Unit – UP, Uttar Pradesh .

The competition will be played in a league-cum-knockout format, with eight groups of three teams each. Only the group toppers will advance to the quarterfinals, making every league match critical. Teams have been drawn from across the country with eight from the North, seven from the South, six from the East, and three from the West, including hosts SNBP Academy.

Among the participating sides are strong contenders such as Round Glass Punjab, a past winner, and Army Sports Boys Company, Bangalore, who have lifted the trophy twice. Dhyanchand Academy, Rajasthan, will also be competing alongside several promising academies.

Meanwhile, the opening ceremony will have the presence of India women’s player Navjot Kaur, a India 2025 Asia Cup silver medallist, as the chief guest. The 30-year old, hailing from Kurukshetra, is a 2016 Olympian and a gold medallist in the 2017 Asia Cup, the 2016 Asia Champions Troph and 2022 FIH Nations Cup, Apart from the gold medals Navjot has a host of silvers and bronze medals internationally.

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.

Elaborating, Dr. D.K. Bhosale, Founder and Chairman of SNBP Group of Institutes, expressed pride in hosting the tournament, noting the remarkable gathering of young athletes.

Highlighting the occasion, Dr. Vrishali Bhosale, President SNBP Group, President Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society and Organizing Chairman, spoke on the significance of the event and called it a “celebration of under-16 talent, who represent the future of the sport. Our commitment to grass root hockey is total; it is why this tournament has completed eight full years. ”

Advocate Rutuja Bhosale, Director, stressed the school’s emphasis on grassroots development of hockey, while Dr. Firoz Sheikh, Director of Physical Education and Tournament Convenor explained, preparations were in full swing to ensure the smooth conduct of the event.

Looking ahead, SNBP will play at the Senior Nehru Nationals (Men) from November 14 to 25, 2025, which further cements its reputation as one of the leading promoters of hockey in India.

Meanwhile, for the record, a whopping Rs. 3.0 lakh has been earmarked for the two tournaments that run simultaneously, the 7th Women’s Hockey Tournament begins on 5th October, 2025 and will be played at the Dr. Dashrat Bhosale Hockey Ground, Chikhli-Moshi.

The boys will receive Rs. 1.0 lakh, the runners-up Rs. 50,000 and third place Rs. 30,000, whereas the girls have Rs. 50,000earmarked for the winners, Rs.30,000 for the runners-up and Rs. 20,000to the third placed finisher.

The opening match will be played between ­­­­Ghumanhera Risers, New Delhi and Sangrur Hockey Academy, Punjab in Group-B, followed by five group stage matches