- Team led by Olympian Surendra Singh triumphs over Olympian Lalit Upadhyay’s Rajdhani Royals; Ketan Kushwaha shines as striker and ‘Player of the Match’
- In a women’s exhibition match, Indravati Tigress defeat Mahanadi Falcons 4-1; Captain Anchal Sahu scores twice
The opening match of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League featured an exciting clash between teams led by two Indian hockey Olympians. In the match held on Thursday at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in Raipur, the Nyaydhani Knights—captained by Olympian Surendra Singh—secured a brilliant start to their campaign by defeating the Rajdhani Royals, led by Olympian Lalit Upadhyay, 2-1. For the Nyaydhani Knights, Chirag and Ketan Kushwaha scored one goal each, while Roshan was the sole goalscorer for the Rajdhani Royals.
From the very beginning, the Nyaydhani Knights displayed an aggressive style of play. In the 12th minute, Chirag converted a penalty corner into a goal, giving his team an early lead. His powerful flick proved too difficult for the Rajdhani Royals’ first rusher and goalkeeper, Himanshu Malik, to stop. Early in the second quarter, Ketan Kushwaha extended the Nyaydhani Knights’ lead to 2-0 with a spectacular field goal, skillfully maneuvering past several opposing defenders to find the back of the net.
Just a minute later, the Nyaydhani Knights had an opportunity to further strengthen their lead, but they were unable to convert a penalty corner. Meanwhile, Rajdhani Royals captain Lalit Upadhyay sought to bring his team back into the contest by increasing the intensity in the midfield. However, the Rajdhani Royals were also unable to capitalize on the rare penalty corner they were awarded. Surendra Singh of Nyaydhani Knights delivered an outstanding performance in the defensive line.
He denied the opposition players any room to maneuver within the ‘D’ (shooting circle). The Nyaydhani Knights’ defenders consistently cleared the ball from the danger zone with great efficiency, a fact reflected in the scoreline. In the final moments of the second quarter, Surendra Singh sustained an injury to his face while attempting to intercept a pass intended for Rajdhani Royals’ Aniket Kujur.
Early in the second half, Nyaydhani Knights were awarded a penalty corner following a ‘stick check’ by Sanjit Tirkey, but they were unable to convert it into a goal. They also failed to capitalize on a subsequent opportunity. Ketan Kushwaha made repeated attempts to score from within the opposition’s ‘D’, but his shots lacked the necessary precision. Meanwhile, in the third quarter, Rajdhani Royals’ players also penetrated the opposition’s ‘D’ several times; however, a lack of coordination among their forward line prevented them from converting these forays into goals.
The pace of the game slowed down somewhat in the fourth quarter. Rajdhani Royals faced the challenge of staging a comeback, but their forward line failed to perform effectively. As they squandered multiple scoring opportunities, the pressure on the team continued to mount. This quarter also saw the second instance of player injury during the match: Rajdhani Royals’ first rusher, Premchand Soy, collided heavily with Chirag of the Nyaydhani Knights. Both players fell to the turf, necessitating a brief stoppage in play.
There were no further major twists in the match, and Nyaydhani Knights secured a 2-1 victory. Ketan Kushwaha, who delivered an impressive performance throughout the match, was named both ‘Striker of the Match’ and ‘Player of the Match’.
Two matches are scheduled to be played at the same stadium on Friday, October 23. The first match will take place at 5:30 PM between Mainpat Titans and Bailadila Bulls. Following this, at 7:30 PM, the teams of Chakradhar Champions and Sanskardhani Strikers will face each other.
- Indravati Tigress secure a one-sided victory in women’s exhibition match, defeating Mahanadi Falcons 4-1
In a women’s exhibition match held on Thursday as part of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League, the Indravati Tigress delivered an impressive performance to defeat the Mahanadi Falcons 4-1. Indravati Tigress captain Anchal Sahu played a pivotal role in the victory, scoring two goals. Leena Korse and Mamteshwari Lahre also contributed one goal each for the team, while Riya Khalkho scored the lone goal for the Mahanadi Falcons.
The Indravati Tigress dominated the match from the outset. They maintained possession for approximately 60 percent of the game and consistently displayed an aggressive style of play. In contrast, the Mahanadi Falcons struggled with coordination, and their forward line failed to demonstrate the expected level of aggression. Through superior strategy, better ball control, and an attacking approach, the Indravati Tigress scored four goals to secure a one-sided win.
- About the Chhattisgarh Hockey League
The Chhattisgarh Hockey League (CHL) is the state’s first official state-level hockey league, organized by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Chhattisgarh. The league was conceived with the objective of providing a platform for hockey players from the state to showcase their talent, gain valuable experience in competitive matches, and create opportunities for them to advance at the state, national, and international levels.
The inaugural edition of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League is being held from October 21 to November 1, 2026, at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in Raipur. It features teams representing various regions of the state.Six franchise teams are competing for the title. These include Rajdhani Royals, Bailadila Bulls, Sanskardhani Strikers, Chakradhar Champions, Nyaydhani Knights, and Mainpat Titans.
Each team consists of 22 players—18 from Chhattisgarh and four from outside the state, all of whom are at the national or international level. The objective of this league is to strengthen the hockey ecosystem in Chhattisgarh, create more opportunities for emerging players, and accelerate the sustained development of hockey—the national sport—within the state.
Organized under the engaging motto “Chalo Re Sangi, Hockey Khelbo” (Come along, friends, let’s play hockey), this league serves as a celebration of Chhattisgarh’s sporting identity, regional pride, and the state’s growing aspirations in the realm of hockey.