New DelhiThirty teams from across the country will compete in the 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026, which begins in Pune, Maharashtra, on August 12 and runs until August 23. Hockey India president Dilip Kumar Tirkey said the Junior Women National Championship was an important platform for identifying and developing the next generation of Indian hockey talent. Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Punjab and Hockey Chandigarh form Pool A, while Pool B consists of Hockey Haryana, Hockey Odisha Association and Hockey Bengal. Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Maharashtra and Manipur Hockey are in Pool C, with Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Madhya Pradesh and Hockey Himachal in Pool D.The Division A league stage begins on August 16. Division B has 10 teams, with the top two earning promotion to Division A and the bottom two dropping to Division C. Division C features eight teams, with its top two sides earning promotion to Division B.