Chandigarh Hockey Academy clinch title

Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA) and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Hockey Club, Sector 26, won the Chandigarh State Junior Men and Women Hockey Championships, respectively, that concluded at the Sector 42 Sports Complex here.

In the women’s final, the Sector 26 team posted a 5-2 win over Chandigarh Hockey Academy (Blue) to win the title. Striker Gurmail laid the winning foundation for the Sector 26 team, as she posted two early goals. She sounded the wooden plank first in the 4th minute, followed by another strike in the 12th minute.

However, Anjali of the CHA (Blue) team tried for initiating a comeback for the side. She reduced to margin to 1-2 by converting a penalty corner in the 14th minute, but Kajal scored the third goal for the Sector 26 team in the 20th minute. The CHA (Blue) eves once again reduced the margin to 2-3 as Annu scored a field goal, but Kamaldeep (40th minute) and Gurmail (44th minute) scored more goals to ensure a smooth win for the side.

In the men’s event, CHA somehow managed to edge past the Sector 26 team in a tie-breaker finish final. The match ended 4-4 in the stipulated time, but CHA had the last laugh in the penalty shootout.

The CHA lads were quick to gain two-goal lead through Anmolpreet Singh (14th) and Parambir (17th). However, a successful penalty corner conversion by Prabhjot (26th), followed by a perfect finish by Prabhjot (junior) in the 30th minute, levelled the game. They got their act together in time with Sahil (37th) and Punit (40th) taking the lead to 4-2.

However, the Sector 26 duo of Prabhjots once again rescued the side. While Prabhjot (junior) posted a field goal in the 45th minute, Prabhjot found the equaliser through a penalty corner conversion in the 59th minute. However, in the penalty shootout, CHA lads had the upper hand.

Meanwhile, CHA (Red) claimed the third position in the women’s category by recording a 7-1 win over Panjab University Hockey Club. Prinka scored for the club in the very first minute of the match, but Ritika (28th) put the score at par through a penalty comer. However, Tamanna (34th, 52nd, 55th), Ram Bhateri (42nd , 58th) and Anjali (38th) scored for the CHA team for an easy win.

Panjab University Hockey Club won the third position in the men’s event by defeating Rock Rovers Hockey Club 6-0. Prince (17th, 40th, 49th), Sourabh (20th), Suraj (21st) and Kunalpreet (41st) netted goals of the second runners-up team.

Hockey Chandigarh also celebrated the Olympic Day 2025, at the same venue after the final matches, as per the guidelines of Hockey India. Over 500 sportspersons from different disciplines took part in the celebration.