4 months ago
2
: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers rode connected their Belgian drag-flicker Alexander Hendrickx’s brace to borderline retired Ranchi Royals 3-2 successful an breathtaking last and emerged arsenic the champions of the Hockey India League 2025-26 astatine the Kalinga Stadium present connected Monday.
Last year’s sixth-place finisher Lancers’ triumph elated a noisy and partisan location connected the Republic Day arsenic overmuch arsenic it thrilled their Aussie manager Jay Stacy connected Australia Day.
The winners took location ₹3 crore, portion the runners-up got ₹ 2 crore.
In a contention betwixt a squad that scored the maximum fig of goals and a broadside that conceded the least, the host, trusting its defence and counters, drew archetypal humor aboriginal arsenic Hendrickx converted their 2nd punishment country with a debased flick.
Royals relied connected their attacking instincts and levelled the scores. Yashdeep Siwach sent successful a precise aerial shot from the near and Araijeet Singh Hundal brought it down to unleash a almighty changeable and bushed Krishan Pathak nether the bar.
Lancers remained composed, valued their possession, switched flanks and successfully recovered holes successful the Royals’ defence. They earned six abbreviated corners successful speedy succession and struck doubly to guarantee a two-goal cushion earlier half-time. Dilpreet Singh’s spectacular deed disconnected a rebound restored Lancers’ pb earlier Hendrickx scored his 2nd with a precocious and angled flick.
Lancers worked hard to show their coagulated defence and support Royals astatine bay successful the 3rd quarter.
Pathak and Co. blunted respective Royals attacks, including 4 abbreviated corners, earlier Tom Boon reduced the borderline successful the closing moments.
Royals played each their cards, including pulling retired their goalkeeper successful the past 4 minutes, successful the tense last 4th but could not halt Lancers, who mislaid conscionable 1 lucifer successful the HIL, again.
Amandeep Lakra’s brace helped Hyderabad Toofans grounds a come-from-behind 4-3 triumph implicit HIL GC successful the third-place playoff.
The results: Final: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 3 (Alex Hendrickx 4-pc, 26-pc, Dilpreet Singh 25-pc) bt Ranchi Royals 2 (Araijeet Singh Hundal 9, Tom Boon 59-pc); Third place: Hyderabad Toofans 4 (Nilakanta Sharma 24, Amandeep Lakra 30-pc, 53-pc, Jacob Anderson 33) bt HIL GC 3 (Sam Ward 14, 52, Kane Russell 55-pc).
