Hockey India Senior Women National Championships from January 21

New Delhi, January 8, 2011: The first Hockey India Senior Women National Championship will be held at Rai (Sonepat) from January 21 to 30.

According to a Hockey India Press release, 24 state teams have confirmed their participation in the championship to be played on a league-cum-knockout format.

The teams have been divided into eight Pools:

Pool A: Jharkahnd, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand’

Pool B: Karnataka, J and K, Bihar.

Pool C: Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Manipur.

Pool D: Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Orissa.

Pool E: Delhi, Goa, Kerala.

Pool F: Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Gujarat.

Pool G: Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bangal.

Pool H: Haryana, Puducherry, Assam.

During the course of the Championship, Hockey India Selectors will select the probables for the National Coaching Camps for the preparation of the Indian team for various International competitions in 2011.

The Indian women team will play in the 7th FIH Women Champions Challenge I, at Dublin, Ireland in June, 2nd Women Asian Champions Trophy at Ordos, China and 3rd Girls U-18 Asia Cup at Bangkok, Thailand in September.

In addition, India is also the host for the 1st Olympic Women Qualifier for the Olympic Games at London in 2012. This Tournament will be held in February next year.