Mainpat Titans Triumph in First Chhattisgarh Hockey League Championship
Mainpat Titans Claim Inaugural CHL Title
The Mainpat Titans emerged victorious in the first season of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League (CHL), defeating the Sanskardhani Strikers with a score of 4-2. The final match took place on November 1 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in Raipur, attended by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
This inaugural edition of the CHL, organized by the Department of Sports & Youth Welfare of the Chhattisgarh Government and sanctioned by Hockey India, featured six franchise teams from various regions of the state. The league aimed to enhance the hockey ecosystem in Chhattisgarh and provide a competitive platform for local players.
Match Highlights and Key Performances
The match attracted a large crowd in Raipur, including dignitaries such as Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao. The Titans' goals came from Abhishek Yadav, Prahalad Rajbhar, and two from Mohit Nayak. The Titans started strong, creating several opportunities early on. However, the Strikers' Ashish Tani Purti, the tournament's top scorer, missed a penalty stroke against goalkeeper Alfaz Khan.
In the first quarter's final moments, Abhishek Yadav scored with a reverse flick following a penalty corner rebound. The second quarter saw little action until Sandeep Kumar assisted Prahalad Rajbhar to equalize. The Titans regained the lead in the third quarter with a penalty corner goal from Sandeep, but the Strikers quickly responded with a goal from Sarikh Ahmed, making it 2-2.
The decisive moment came when Mohit Nayak scored a brilliant tomahawk shot into the top corner, followed by another goal in the final seconds, sealing the victory for the Titans.
Awards and Recognition
Mohit Nayak was named Player of the Match, while Abhishek from Sanskardhani received the Striker of the Match Award. The tournament featured a total prize pool of ₹21 lakh, with ₹11 lakh awarded to the Mainpat Titans and ₹6 lakh to the runners-up, Sanskardhani Strikers.
Awards were given for outstanding performances, with Shahrukh Ali recognized as Player of the Tournament, Ashish Tani Purti as Top Scorer with 13 goals, and Himanshu as Best Goalkeeper. Local talent Mohit Nayak was honored as Best Chhattisgarh Player, and Sandeep Kumar received the Emerging Player (U-21) Award.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the teams for their exceptional display of hockey and highlighted the significance of local players competing alongside established Indian athletes, emphasizing the league's role in promoting hockey in the state.