New Delhi: Defending champion Haryana has been drawn in Group A along with Maharashtra, Puducherry, Bengal and Bhopal in the 2nd Hockey India Senior Men National Championship to be held in Bengaluru from September 23 to October 2.

As many as 34 Hockey India’s member units have confirmed their participation in the Championship which will be played on a league cum knockout basis on the artificial pitches at Hockey Stadium, Langford Road and MEG AstroTurf at MEG Centre, Banaswadi Road.

The inaugural match shall be played between Chhattisgarh and Arunachal Pradesh in Pool C on September 23.

Hockey India selectors and the Government observer will be scouting players to select the probables for the next National coaching camps for the preparation of the Indian team for the Champions Trophy in Melbourne, Australia from December 1 to 9 and the 2nd Asian Champions Trophy in Doha, Qatar from December 14 to 21.

Hockey India will provide host Hockey Karnataka a grant of Rs. 16 lakh for organising the Championship.

By Indian Sports News Network