Punjab clinched the title at the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025 in Division ‘A’ with a commanding 4-1 win over Madhya Pradesh in the final held on Tuesday. Led by captain Hardik Singh, the Punjab team delivered a well-coordinated performance to secure the gold medal, with Jugraj Singh starring as the standout player.
Jugraj Singh, known for his composure in pressure situations, netted twice in the 30th and 49th minutes, helping Punjab establish firm control of the game. His first goal came just two minutes after Madhya Pradesh’s Pratap Lakra had opened the scoring in the 28th minute, temporarily giving MP hope.
Jaskaran Singh added to Punjab’s tally in the 38th minute, while Maninder Singh struck in the 46th, putting the result beyond doubt. Despite their early lead, Madhya Pradesh could not maintain momentum and settled for the silver medal.
Reacting to the victory, Punjab skipper Hardik Singh expressed pride in his team’s execution. “The plan was to attack from the start, and I can say the boys have executed well. Jugraj played exceptionally well. I still feel we have missed a couple of chances here, but we are happy with the win. It’s always great to perform in the domestic circuit. Overall, the competition was good, and it feels good to win the gold medal,” he said.
In the third-place playoff, Uttar Pradesh secured the bronze medal with an emphatic 5-1 win over Manipur. Kushwaha Sourabh Anand led the charge with a brace in the 29th and 49th minutes, earning the top goalscorer honour for the match. Sharda Nand Tiwari (35’), Deep Atul (48’), and Shivam Anand (60’) also found the net, rounding off a dominant display.
Manipur’s lone goal came from Moirangthem Rabichandran Singh in the 45th minute, offering a brief moment of resistance before Uttar Pradesh pulled further ahead.
The championship showcased emerging talent and tactical excellence from across the country, with Punjab’s triumph reaffirming their status as a hockey powerhouse in Indian domestic circuits.
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