Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh State Junior Boys Hockey Championship got underway on Friday at the Mohammad Shahid Hockey Stadium, with hosts and contenders delivering impressive performances on the opening day. The tournament is being jointly organized by the Sports Directorate of Uttar Pradesh and the Uttar Pradesh Hockey Association to mark the birth centenary year of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Sports Hostel Lucknow made a resounding start to their campaign by registering a commanding 6–0 victory over Agra Division. In another one-sided contest, Lucknow Sports College outclassed Meerut Hostel 7–0, showcasing their attacking strength and control throughout the match.
Lucknow Division also began its journey on a winning note, defeating Devipatan Division 5–0 to secure a place in the next round of the competition.
The championship was formally inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Sports Director Dr RP Singh. Uttar Pradesh Hockey official Rajneesh Mishra and Olympic bronze medalist Lalit Upadhyay were present on the occasion, adding prestige to the opening ceremony.
The match between Sports Hostel Lucknow and Agra Division proved to be completely one-sided. Shahrukh gave Sports Hostel Lucknow an early advantage by scoring in the very first minute of the opening quarter. The team dominated the first quarter, scoring four goals in quick succession. Shahrukh opened the scoring, followed by goals from Prahlad (4th minute), Ajay (15th minute), Atif (49th minute) and Raghavendra, who scored in the 9th and 59th minutes to complete the 6–0 rout.
In the match featuring Lucknow Sports College, the team maintained pressure throughout the game, scoring one goal in the second quarter, two in the third quarter and two more in the final quarter. Saksham, captain Raunak, Ansh and Dishant were among the goal scorers for Lucknow Sports College.
In other matches played on the day, Sports Hostel Varanasi defeated Aligarh 2–0, while Basti registered a convincing 4–0 win over Azamgarh. Kanpur Division also beat Azamgarh 4–0. Sports Hostel Jhansi delivered a strong performance to defeat Ayodhya Division 6–1.
Meanwhile, the matches between Kanpur Division and Bareilly, and between Varanasi Division and Prayagraj Division, ended in 1–1 draws.
The championship will continue in the coming days, with teams from across Uttar Pradesh competing for the state title and aiming to make their mark by showcasing young and emerging hockey talent.