All posts tagged: Kalinga Lancers

Hockey India League: Odisha-based Kalinga Lancers beat Ranchi Royals to be crowned champions | Hockey News

Hockey India League: Odisha-based Kalinga Lancers beat Ranchi Royals to be crowned champions | Hockey News

Published by Parlour News

Kalinga Lancers edged past Ranchi Royals 3–2 in a gripping final to lift the men’s Hockey India League (HIL) title in front of a partisan home crowd at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Monday. Put under extreme pressure in the closing stages, the Lancers held their nerve in a high-quality contest to secure the championship, with Alexander Hendrickx and Dilpreet Singh delivering the decisive goals. Hendrickx struck twice (4’, 27’) through his trademark dragflicks, while Dilpreet Singh (25’) added a crucial goal from close range. Ranchi Royals fought until the very end, finding the net through Araijeet Singh Hundal (9’) and captain Tom Boon (59’), but ultimately fell just short in a pulsating finish. Both teams began the final with intensity, pressing high and creating early circle entries as they looked to assert control. The Lancers struck first in the fourth minute after earning back-to-back penalty corners. Hendrickx stepped up and unleashed a fierce dragflick that beat Ranchi Royals goalkeeper Suraj Karkera to give the hosts an early advantage. Ranchi Royals responded swiftly …

Ranchi Royals beat Hyderabad Toofans to set up summit clash vs Kalinga Lancers

Ranchi Royals beat Hyderabad Toofans to set up summit clash vs Kalinga Lancers

Published by Webster

Ranchi Royals registered a sensational 3-2 win over Hyderabad Toofans in Qualifier 2 to enter the men’s Hockey India League final here on Sunday. Royals will face Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in the title clash on Monday. It was a hat-trick of goals by Tom Boon (13′, 15′, 34′) that ensured Royals book their place in the final, and the Toofans replied through Jacob Anderson (5′) and Amandeep Lakra (38′). It was top-class action between the two teams with Toofans getting off the blocks with a sensational goal by Anderson in the 5th minute. It was a goal brilliantly set-up by India’s rising midfielder Rajinder Singh who tackled almost three defenders, swiftly making his way from the right flank to find Anderson poised in front of the goal to get the perfect deflection. The 1-0 lead by Toofans put them in good stead but they ended up squandering it when they gave away two easy PCs to Ranchi Royals.With Boon in their ranks, Royals were sure to capitalise on it. Boon struck two back-to-back goals with …

Men’s HIL: Kalinga Lancers qualify for Final

Men’s HIL: Kalinga Lancers qualify for Final

Published by Webster

Kalinga Lancers booked their spot in the final of the 2026 Men’s Hockey India League (HIL), securing a 2-1 win against Ranchi Royals at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Friday. Alexander Hendrickx bagged a brace to give his side a 2-0 lead before Mandeep Singh pulled one back for the Royals. Ranchi Royals began the game on the front foot, keeping possession and moving the ball around neatly to make inroads. Having sustained the early pressure by staying steady at the back, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers grew into the game and eventually broke the deadlock after Alexander Hendrickx (12’) converted his dragflick from a penalty corner, giving his side a 1-0 lead in the first quarter. The Royals pushed forward in search of an equaliser, creating 6 circle entries and earning 4 penalty corners in the second quarter. However, the Lancers continued to show why they’re the most reliable defence in the league having conceded only 8 goals thus far, keeping their opponents at bay to hold onto their one-goal advantage at half time. It was …

Tamil Nadu Dragons edge Ranchi Royals in shootout

Tamil Nadu Dragons edge Ranchi Royals in shootout

Published by Webster

Tamil Nadu Dragons clinched the shootout bonus with a 4-2 win over Ranchi Royals after a high-scoring 3-3 draw in the Men’s Hockey India League on Tuesday. While the Dragons walked away with the extra point, the Royals did enough to finish second on the points table, booking a Qualifier 1 clash against the Kalinga Lancers on Friday. The result also confirmed a playoff berth for the Hyderabad Toofans. JSW Soorma Hockey Club, meanwhile, must register a seven-goal victory in their final league match against the SG Pipers to claim the remaining playoff spot ahead of HIL GC. Ranchi Royals made a blistering start, taking the lead within the opening minute through Mandeep Singh, who reacted quickest to convert a rebound from close range. The momentum continued as Tom Boon doubled the advantage in the ninth minute, following up on his own penalty corner attempt to make it 2-0. The Dragons gradually settled and pulled one back late in the second quarter when Blake Govers converted a penalty corner in the 24th minute. That goal …

Men’s HIL: Kalinga Lancers beat Bengal Tigers; climb to second spot on the table

Men’s HIL: Kalinga Lancers beat Bengal Tigers; climb to second spot on the table

Published by Webster

Kalinga Lancers registered their second win on the trot, clinching a narrow 2-1 victory against Rarh Bengal Tigers in the 2025-26 Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Egmore on Thursday. Alexander Hendrickx (52’) and Boby Singh Dhami (57’) scored for the winners, while Affan Yousuf (56’) netted for the Tigers. It was one-way traffic in the initial stages of the game as the Lancers began the game on the front foot. They dominated possession, registering 11 circle entries compared to just a couple for the Tigers. The Lancers had a couple of attempts on goal, forcing the Tigers keeper James Carr into action. However, they couldn’t find a significant opening apart from the lone penalty corner in a goalless first quarter. The Tigers grew into the game in the second quarter, finding some momentum to make inroads on the attacking end. They turned the tide with 9 circle entries and 4 shots in the second quarter, but were kept at bay by Krishan Bahadur Pathak, who pulled off some exceptional …

Kalinga Lancers overturn early setback to defeat Ranchi Royals 4–2 in Men’s HIL

Kalinga Lancers overturn early setback to defeat Ranchi Royals 4–2 in Men’s HIL

Published by Webster

Vedanta Kalinga Lancers recovered from an early deficit to register a 4–2 victory over Ranchi Royals in their opening fixture of the Hockey India League at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. The contest began at a frenetic pace, with Ranchi Royals striking inside the opening minute. Tom Boon converted an early penalty corner with a powerful drag-flick to put his side ahead. The Royals continued to control possession in the early exchanges, but the Lancers gradually settled into the contest and found their response through a set piece of their own. Alexander Hendrickx stepped up in the seventh minute to level the scores with a well-directed drag-flick. Ranchi Royals reclaimed the lead soon after, as Mandeep Singh finished off a sharp move inside the circle to make it 2–1. However, Kalinga Lancers responded strongly in the second quarter, beginning a decisive spell that turned the match in their favour. Craig Marias’ clever work in the circle created space for Gursahibjit Singh, who scored with a diving finish in the 16th minute …

Never be unfit again: Dilpreet Singh’s mantra as he looks to make up for lost time

Never be unfit again: Dilpreet Singh’s mantra as he looks to make up for lost time

Published by Webster

When a teenaged Dilpreet Singh made his international debut nearly eight years ago in 2018, he was touted as the next big thing in Indian hockey. Over the next few years, Dilpreet was a vital cog in the wheel for the then Manpreet Singh-led side and even scored twice during India’s historic bronze medal winning run at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. However, he fell out of favour soon after. Just the next year, he was dropped from the team altogether. Despite his world class poaching skills inside the shooting circle, fitness remained a major cause of concern for Dilpreet. He struggled to get proper game time as he fell down the pecking order, missing the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2023 home World Cup among other major events. “It was disappointing to train hard and still not be able to play,” Dilpreet told The Bridge, reflecting on that three-year period when he found himself out of the national team. It was only last year as India started building towards the new-Olympic cycle and the …

How Bengal Tigers won Hockey India League: Ageing but inspirational captain, coach seeking redemption, on-fire Indian-core | Hockey News

How Bengal Tigers won Hockey India League: Ageing but inspirational captain, coach seeking redemption, on-fire Indian-core | Hockey News

Published by Webster

An ageing captain, who had announced his retirement from international hockey more than three years back. A head coach who had to step down from his long-standing role with the Australian men’s national team after a shock quarterfinal exit at the Paris Olympics. A squad with an average age of 27.5, with half of the overseas contingent well past 30. And 40.5 per cent of their Rs 4 crore purse to build a squad of 24 players spent on just three Indian stars. It’d be fair to say that before the Hockey India League 2024-’25 season began, the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers wouldn’t have been considered overwhelming favourites for the title. But Rupinderpal Singh’s social media caption said a story. “They didn’t believe in us, we believed in us,” he wrote. The first part of the statement was an acknowledgement from within that they didn’t boast of the strongest unit. “That was the reason I wrote that message,” Rupinder told The Indian Express with a knowing chuckle, reflecting on Tigers’ HIL triumph in Rourkela last …

The best matches from the group stages

The best matches from the group stages

Published by Webster

After a seven-year hiatus, the Hockey India League (HIL) is back and for over a month, fans around the country and the globe have been treated to a hockey spectacle. Eight franchises fought tooth and nail and it took until the very last match of the group stage to decide the semifinalists. With 40 matches played, and 179 goals scored, every single match in the HIL has had its fair share of excitement. But some matches were etched in our memories, with excitement reaching palpable levels. We at The Bridge bring to you our pick of the best matches from the group stages of the HIL. Tamil Nadu Dragons 2(6)-2(5) Vedanta Kalinga Lancers Match eight of the HIL, featuring TN Dragons and Kalinga Lancers turned out to be a classic. After a goalless first quarter, the match sprung into life in the second quarter, with Kalinga Lancers breaking the deadlock It was Alexander Hendrickx who opened the scoring from the penalty corner in the 24th minute, but just one minute into the second half, the …

Soorma Hockey Club thumps Kalinga Lancers 5-3 to rise to 3rd spot

Soorma Hockey Club thumps Kalinga Lancers 5-3 to rise to 3rd spot

Published by Webster

Soorma Hockey Club registered a hard-fought 5-3 victory against the Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League 2024-25 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Monday. Dilpreet Singh (5’) gave the Lancers the lead in the game but Prabhjot Singh (26’) restored parity for Soorma. Harmanpreet Singh (32’, 54’) and Nicolas Keenan (33’) extended Soorma’s lead with quickfire goals in the third quarter. However, Theirry Brinkman (44’) pulled a goal back towards the end of the quarter. Maninder Singh (51’) and Harmanpreet Singh found the back of the net to extend Soorma’s lead further and even though Gursahibjit Singh (56’) pulled a goal back in the dying minutes, Soorma walked away with three crucial points. Soorma dictated the tempo as the game began, making headways into the opposition half but the Lancers had the first shot of the game as Sanjay crossed the ball from the right wing and Aran Zalewski’s deflection forced Soorma goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch into action early. Minutes later, Dilpreet Singh received the ball on top of the circle and …