Jugraj Singh's Hat-Trick Leads Shrachi Bengal Tigers to Victory Over Tamil Nadu Dragons
Shrachi Bengal Tigers Triumph in Hockey India League
Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], January 13: In a thrilling encounter at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Hockey Stadium, Jugraj Singh netted his first hat-trick of the season, propelling the Shrachi Bengal Tigers to a decisive 5-3 victory against the Tamil Nadu Dragons in the Hockey India League 2026 (Men) on Tuesday.
This victory was crucial for the Tigers, who had been languishing in seventh place on the pool table prior to the match. With this win, they surged to fourth place, keeping their playoff aspirations alive, as reported by a Hockey India press release.
Jugraj became only the second player in the league's history to achieve a hat-trick, following Kane Rusell from the HIL GC team, who has accomplished this feat three times. The Tigers also benefited from goals by Sukhjeet (33') and Abhishek (55'), while the Dragons found the net through Adrohit Ekka (36'), Thomas Sorsby (48'), and Blake Govers (51').
The defending champions, Shrachi Bengal Tigers, started strong with Abhishek creating the first significant scoring opportunity, although it did not result in a goal. A penalty stroke was awarded to the Tigers in the 11th minute due to a defensive infringement by the Dragons. Jugraj Singh, the top scorer from the previous season, faced off against the renowned David Harte in goal and successfully converted the penalty, placing the ball low and hard into the net.
With a 1-0 lead, the Tigers maintained their advantage. The second quarter ended without any goals, despite the Dragons' efforts to equalize, led by Uttam Singh. Tigers' coach Valentin Altenburg expressed dissatisfaction at halftime, noting that his team needed to improve. They responded in the third quarter with a stunning goal from Sukhjeet Singh, following a well-executed play involving Tommy Willems and Abhishek, extending their lead to 2-0.
The Dragons managed to score in the 36th minute through Adrohit's penalty corner, but Jugraj Singh quickly answered back with two goals in the 43rd and 45th minutes, completing his hat-trick and putting the Tigers ahead 4-1.
However, the Dragons fought back in the final quarter, scoring twice in quick succession through Sorsby and Govers, narrowing the gap. The closing minutes were tense, featuring video referrals that favored the Tigers. A crucial penalty corner in the 55th minute allowed Abhishek to score from a clever variation, deflecting Tom Grambusch's dragflick, sealing the match at 5-3.