Grit & glory: Pinegrove school’s flawless campaign yields soccer championship

Pinegrove School, Dharampur, reaffirmed its footballing dominance by lifting the 26th Bhupinder Memorial Inter-School Soccer Tournament-2025 trophy with a flawless campaign marked by grit, teamwork and skill.

The team opened its run in commanding fashion, defeating hosts Lawrence School, Sanawar, 3-0. Riding the momentum, they outclassed Sherwood College, Nainital, by another emphatic 3-0 margin.

The semifinals saw Pinegrove at their attacking best, thrashing Modern School, Vasant Vihar, 6-1 to book their place in the grand finale. The summit clash turned into a tense battle against arch-rivals Bishop Cotton School, Shimla. After a goalless regular time, Pinegrove struck in extra time through Vivek Shaw, who was named Man of the Match, sealing a dramatic 1-0 victory.

The champions, who remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, also bagged top individual honours. Mahendra Chettri was adjudged Best Defender, while Arpit Sharma earned the title of Best Player.

In a repeat of last year’s final between the same two schools, Pinegrove once again showcased its indomitable spirit and resilience, lifting the coveted trophy with immense pride.