Hockey India to hold two-tier senior nationals from 2014

There has always been a clarion call to restructure the senior national hockey championships. So much has been said about how the lop-sided wins chalked up by top teams against weaker outfits defeat the very purpose of staging such an event.

Hockey India seems to be undertaking an effort to rejig the senior national hockey championships in a bid to ensure a ‘competitive’ structure in place. HI is all set to have a two-tier senior nationals from this year.

According to Hockey India sources, the move could do away with possibility of bigger teams winning by massive margins against weaker teams. It is learnt that Hockey India is keen to have a ‘A’ and ‘B’ division senior nationals from this year.

The ‘A’ division will comprise 20 strong teams, while the weaker sides are expected to be accommodated in ‘B’ division. The new format could see teams finishing at the bottom of the table of the ‘A’ division being relegated and the top two finishers in the ‘B’ division securing promotion to ‘A’ division.

It is learnt that the format will be applicable for all the senior, junior and sub-junior events (men and women). Hopefully, the new format will augment interest among hockey lovers and pull in large crowds in the senior national championships.