Mainpat Titans Claim Victory in Chhattisgarh Hockey League Finale
Mainpat Titans Triumph in Inaugural Chhattisgarh Hockey League
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) - On November 1, the Mainpat Titans emerged victorious in the first season of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League, defeating the Sanskardhani Strikers with a score of 4-2. The final match took place at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium, attended by notable figures including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The Chhattisgarh Hockey League (CHL), organized by the Department of Sports & Youth Welfare and sanctioned by Hockey India, featured six franchise teams from various regions of the state. The league aimed to enhance the local hockey scene and provide a competitive platform for players over the course of the 12-day tournament.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd, the Titans showcased their skills, with goals from Abhishek Yadav, Prahalad Rajbhar, and two from Mohit Nayak. The match began with a strong offensive from the Titans, who created several opportunities early on. However, the Strikers' Shahrukh also had a chance, but his shot was blocked.
The Strikers were awarded a penalty stroke, but Ashish Tani Purti, the tournament's leading scorer, missed the opportunity against the skilled goalkeeper Alfaz Khan. Just before the first quarter ended, Abhishek Yadav scored with a reverse flick after a penalty corner rebound. The second quarter saw little action until Sandeep Kumar and Prahalad Rajbhar combined brilliantly to equalize for the Strikers.
In the third quarter, Mainpat regained the lead with a penalty corner conversion by Sandeep, but the Strikers quickly responded with a goal from Sarikh Ahmed, leveling the score at 2-2.
The decisive moment came from Mohit Nayak, who skillfully maneuvered in the circle to score, followed by another goal in the final moments, sealing the Titans' victory. The Strikers' inability to convert penalty corners proved costly, with Abhishek from Sanskardhani earning the Striker of the Match award, while Mohit was named Player of the Match.
The tournament featured a prize pool of Rs 21 lakh, with Rs 11 lakh awarded to the Mainpat Titans and Rs 6 lakh to the runners-up. Individual accolades included Shahrukh Ali as Player of the Tournament, Ashish Tani Purti as Top Scorer with 13 goals, and Himanshu as Best Goalkeeper. Local talent Mohit Nayak was recognized as the Best Chhattisgarh Player, while Sandeep Kumar received the Emerging Player (U-21) Award.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised the teams for their exceptional performance and expressed joy at seeing 108 local players compete alongside renowned Indian athletes such as Pradeep, Shamsher, and others. The inaugural season of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League has successfully fostered local talent and strengthened the state's contribution to Indian hockey.