Bhubaneswar: Odisha hosted a spectacular display of world class hockey as the Hero Hockey India League 2026 reached its grand finale at the iconic Kalinga Stadium on Monday evening. The summit clash between home favorites Vedanta Kalinga Lancers and the resilient Ranchi Royals took place in front of a capacity crowd and a distinguished gallery of dignitaries who gathered to support the revival of India’s premier hockey league.
The event was graced by Smt. Surama Padhy, Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, and Shri Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister for Sports and Youth Services, Higher Education, and Odia Language, Literature and Culture.
Their presence underscored the state’s unwavering commitment to making Odisha the global hub for hockey. Joining them were top state officials including Smt. Anu Garg, Chief Secretary of Odisha, and Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Secretary for Sports and Youth Services.
The hockey fraternity was represented at the highest level by Dr. Dilip Kumar Tirkey, President of Hockey India, along with Shri Bhola Nath Singh, Vice President of the Asian Hockey Federation and Secretary General of Hockey India. Also in attendance were Shri Nitin Kohli, Executive Board Member of Hockey India, and Cdr. R K Srivastava, Director General of Hockey India, all of whom have played pivotal roles in the successful execution of this seventh edition of the league.
The final served as the culmination of a month long tournament that saw eight teams battle across Chennai, Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar. Ranchi Royals entered the match with significant momentum following a thrilling 3-2 victory in the second qualifier against Hyderabad Toofans, led by a clinical hat-trick from captain Tom Boon. Meanwhile, the Kalinga Lancers had secured their spot earlier by finishing top of the league table and winning the first qualifier.
Beyond the action on the turf, the presence of such esteemed leadership highlighted the collective effort to strengthen grassroots hockey and provide Indian athletes with a competitive platform alongside international stars. The tournament has been a resounding success, further cementing the sport’s popularity and the Kalinga Stadium’s reputation as a world class venue for championship athletics.