Odisha beat Punjab, Madhya Pradesh overcome Jharkhand to enter junior hockey finalHockey Association of Odisha and Hockey Madhya Pradesh advanced to the final of the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2026 after semifinal victories over Punjab and Jharkhand respectively. In the opening semifinal, Hockey Association of Odisha defeated Hockey Punjab 6–4 in a thrilling high-scoring encounter. In the second semifinal, Hockey Madhya Pradesh registered a disciplined 2–0 victory over Hockey Jharkhand. Both teams showcased strong defensive discipline before Hockey Madhya Pradesh capitalised on their late opportunities to finish the contest in commanding fashion. Earlier in the day, Hockey Punjab and Hockey Jharkhand will compete in the 3rd/4th place playoff as they aim to finish their campaigns on a winning note.