Kalinga Lancers Clinch Hockey India League Title in Electrifying Final Showdown
In a heart-stopping conclusion to the men's Hockey India League (HIL) season, the Odisha-based Kalinga Lancers emerged victorious, edging past the Ranchi Royals with a narrow 3-2 scoreline to be crowned champions. The thrilling final unfolded on Monday at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar, where a fervent home crowd witnessed a masterclass in high-stakes hockey.
A Championship Decided by Nerve and Skill
The match began with both teams displaying immense intensity, pressing high and creating early opportunities as they vied for control. The Lancers struck first in the fourth minute, capitalizing on back-to-back penalty corners. Alexander Hendrickx stepped up and unleashed a fierce dragflick that beat Ranchi Royals goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, giving the hosts an early advantage.
Ranchi Royals responded swiftly and in style. In the ninth minute, Yashdeep Siwach delivered a clever aerial pass from the left flank, finding Araijeet Singh Hundal inside the circle. Hundal showcased excellent control to bring the ball down before smashing a powerful shot past the goalkeeper to restore parity.
Decisive Moments in the Second Quarter
The second quarter proved pivotal as the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers seized control. While Ranchi Royals continued to show attacking intent, a series of penalty corners swung momentum firmly in the Lancers' favour. In the 25th minute, Hendrickx's dragflick was initially saved, but Dilpreet Singh reacted quickest to the rebound, calmly slotting the ball home.
Just two minutes later, Hendrickx converted another penalty corner, firing a thunderous dragflick into the top right corner to give the Lancers a commanding 3-1 lead at halftime. His brace, combined with Dilpreet Singh's crucial goal, set the stage for a tense second half.
Ranchi Royals' Valiant Comeback Effort Falls Short
Ranchi Royals dominated possession in the third quarter and pushed hard to get back into the contest. Captain Tom Boon saw his penalty-corner effort blocked by the first rusher, while Araijeet Singh Hundal came close again late in the quarter only to be denied by an excellent save from goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak.
The Royals threw everything forward in the final quarter, but Pathak produced a series of outstanding saves, denying Sam Lane, Boon, and Nilam Sanjeep Xess. Boon finally pulled one back from a penalty corner in the 59th minute, but time ran out as the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers held on to claim a memorable HIL title triumph at home.
Prize Distribution and Individual Accolades
The Hockey India League announced a total prize purse of Rs 6 Crore following the final. The champions, Kalinga Lancers, received Rs 3 Crore, while runners-up Ranchi Royals took home Rs 2 Crore. Hyderabad Toofans, who defeated HIL GC earlier in the day to finish third, were awarded Rs 1 Crore.
In the third-place playoff, a high-scoring thriller saw Amandeep Lakra bag a brace (30', 53') with Nilakanta Sharma (24') and Jacob Anderson (33') also getting on the scoresheet for the Toofans. Meanwhile, Sam Ward scored twice (14', 52') while Kane Russell was on target (55') for HIL GC.
Among individual award winners:
- Tamil Nadu Dragons goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh was named Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
- Talem Priyobarta of HIL GC won the Upcoming Player of the Tournament award.
- Both players received Rs 10 Lakh each.
- Ranchi Royals skipper Tom Boon finished as the Top Scorer of the Tournament with 19 goals and was also awarded Rs 10 Lakh.
- Hyderabad Toofans' Amandeep Lakra was crowned the Player of the Tournament and received Rs 20 Lakh.
This championship victory marks a significant achievement for the Kalinga Lancers, showcasing their resilience and skill under pressure in front of their home supporters. The tournament's conclusion not only highlighted team successes but also celebrated individual excellence, reinforcing the growth and competitiveness of hockey in India.
