Defending champions PSPB look to extend reign at 6th HI Sr Men Inter-Dept tourney

Defending champions Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) will look to extend their reign as the 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026 will be held at the Gachibowli Hockey Stadium in Hyderabad from September 4 to 13.

Twenty department teams, which will feature players who have donned the India colours, from across the nation will take part in the prestigious tournament.

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Some of the Olympians who will be seen in action during the tournament are Surender, Varun Kumar, Kothajeet Singh, Devinder Walmiki. Apart from them international players like Vikas Dahiya, Harjit Singh, Gurjot Singh, Affan Yousuf, Talwinder Singh, Dipson Tirkey and Sudeep Chermako too will showcase their skills.

The teams have been divided into four pools with each pool having five teams. The teams will play each other in their respective pools and the top two for each pool will qualify for the quarterfinals, which will be held on September 10. The semifinals will be held on September 12 and the final on September 13.

PSPB had scored a 3-0 win over Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) in the final at the Naval Tata Hockey Academy ISWP Ground in Jamshedpur last year. Pics: Hockey India

The winner will get 3 points and in case of a draw each team will get one point.

Last year, PSPB had scored a 3-0 win over Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) in the final at the Naval Tata Hockey Academy ISWP Ground in Jamshedpur. In the 3rd place contest, Services Sports Control Board had edged Food Corporation of India (FCI) 3-2 in a shootout after both teams were locked 1-1 in regular time.

PSPB lead the challenge in Pool A

This year the top four teams have been placed in different pools. PSPB lead the challenge in Pool A and will have to contend against the likes of Central Secretariat and Punjab National Bank, who finished eighth and ninth in the 5th edition of the tournament last year. However, PSPB may not have to break a sweat on the way to the quarterfinals. PSBP meet Sashastra Seema Bal in their opening game.

Last year’s runners-up, Comptroller & Auditor General of India are in Pool B and will have some competition in the form of Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Punjab & Sind Bank, who were placed seventh and 10th last year. CAG will kick off the tournament on September 4 with a clash against Central Reserve Police Force at 8 am.

Services Sports Control Board have been placed in Pool C and could face challenge from All India Police Sports Control Board, who were sixth last season. Services Sports Control Board will take on Steel Plant Sports Board in their opening pool match.

Food Corporation of India (FCI) are in Pool D and have Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) for company. FCI clash with Tamil Nadu Police to begin their campaign.

Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) who finished runners-up last year

A team manager’s meeting will be held on September 3, while September 11 is a rest day.

After the FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, which were held in March 2026, hockey returns to the Gachibowli Hockey Stadium in the form of the 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026.

Telangana Hockey, in coordination with the Sports Authority of Telangana (SATG) and Cocanada Coastal Club of Kakinada, is organizing the tournament.

Suresh Battini, chief commissioner of Income Tax, AP & Telangana, will be the chief guest for the inaugural ceremony to be held on September 4.

The pools: Pool A: Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB), Central Secretariat, Punjab National Bank, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), ITBP Central Hockey Team.

Pool B: Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG), Sports Authority of India (SAI), Punjab & Sind Bank, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Defence Accounts Sports Control Board.

Pool C: Service Sports Control Board (SSCB), All India Police Sports Control Board, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Steel Plant Sports Board, Union Bank of India (UBI).

Pool D: Food Corporation of India (FCI), Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Tamil Nadu Police, Canara Bank.