30 teams to compete in Junior Men’s Hockey Nationals
NEW DELHI, Aug 11: Thirty teams will compete in the 15th Hockey India Junior Men’s National Championships, which will be held in the new division-based format in Jalandhar from Tuesday.The new format has already been introduced and implemented in the senior and sub junior men’s and women’s and the junior women’s national championships earlier this year.The 30 participating teams are split into Division ‘A’, Division ‘B’ and Division ‘C’, with promotion and relegation adding an extra edge to the competition.The teams in Division ‘A’ will be fighting for the title while the top two teams from Divisions ‘B’ and ‘C’ will earn promotion to the next tier.The bottom two sides in Divisions ‘A’ and ‘B’ will face relegation to the next division for 2026.Division ‘A’ features the country’s 12 best junior men’s sides, including defending champions Punjab, runners-up Uttar Pradesh and third-placed Haryana.Pool matches begin on August 16, leading to the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final from August 20 to 23.Division ‘B’ will feature league matches only, with the top two ranked teams being promoted to Division ‘A’ and the last two relegated to Division ‘C’. Matches will run from August 12 to 16.Division ‘C’ will also be played in a league-format with teams divided into two pools of four teams each, with the top two ranked teams being promoted to Division ‘B’.Across all three divisions, teams will earn 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. (PTI)
Suraj Narredu makes history with Shergar Cup 2025 win
NEW DELHI, Aug 11: Suraj Narredu-led Team Asia has brought home the Shergar Cup 2025 trophy. From India to Ascot, Narredu delivered on his promise to leave a global mark. Alongside Japanese jockeys Ryusei Sakai and Mirai Iwata, he won two of six races and secured a crucial second place, snatching the win by just one point ahead of Europe. Asia prevailed 68–67 over Europe, with Great Britain and Ireland third on 62 and the Rest of the World on 55. Hugh Bowman clinched the Silver Saddle as the leading jockey.In a steadily driven two-mile event, the 40-year-old made his move early, keeping every opponent at bay by almost two lengths. “Being a debut team and winning today is icing on the cake. I know this is a new team, but I’m sure in the future they’ll be a force to be reckoned with,” he said.With over 2,400 career wins, Narredu has left no soil untouched by his excellence. His passion for carrying the Narredu name like a crown – just as his father and uncle once did – adds deeper value to his game.“It has been a dream come true. I had always imagined what it would feel like, but now that I’m living it, it’s surreal. This is one of the greatest moments in my life- the one I’d always been waiting for. I feel honoured to take this win back to my country,” he added.To mark the milestone, Narredu celebrated with a signature flying dismount for the first time – a move made famous by his idol Frankie Dettori – lighting up the crowd and leaving fans smiling from ear to ear. (IANS)