Strikers register their first Chhattisgarh Hockey League victory; Nyaydhani Knights secure semi-final berth after 4-4 draw against Chakradhar Champions
TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 27, 2026: Sanskardhani Strikers finally opened their account in the Chhattisgarh Hockey League with a convincing 4-2 victory over Lalit Upadhyay-led Rajdhani Royals on Tuesday, riding on impressive braces from Shahrukh and Ashish Tani Purti.
Playing under captain Shamsher, the Strikers showed greater attacking intent after a cautious start to the contest. Ashish struck twice through penalty corners, while Shahrukh scored two crucial field goals to seal the team’s first win of the tournament.
The match was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao and Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal. Other dignitaries present included Chandan Kumar, CEO of the Chhattisgarh Capital Region Development Authority; Yogendra Shukla, Chairman-Finance of Sharda Group; Adarsh Srivastava, Regional Manager of SBI; Chandrashekhar, Marketing Head of Goyal Group; and O.P. Sharma, General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh State Softball Association.
Ashish breaks the deadlock
With both teams still searching for their first victory, the encounter carried significant importance for their hopes of remaining in contention. The pressure was evident in the opening quarter, as both sides prioritised possession and struggled to create clear scoring opportunities.
The Strikers eventually broke the deadlock when Ashish converted a penalty corner. The Royals, however, responded just before half-time, with Roshan producing an outstanding reverse-hit finish. After manoeuvring past defenders inside the circle, he created space on the left and fired home to level the scores.
The contest remained closely fought until Shahrukh capitalised on a defensive lapse. Left unmarked inside the circle, he unleashed a reverse flick to put the Strikers back in front.
Ashish then converted another penalty corner to extend the advantage, taking his tournament tally to nine goals.
Shahrukh seals the win
Shahrukh struck again with just a minute remaining in the third quarter, converting a precise pass from the right in front of the goalpost to strengthen the Strikers’ grip on the match.
The Royals attempted to fight back, with Lalit scoring from a rebound following a penalty corner. However, the Strikers maintained their composure to secure a 4-2 victory.
Ashish was named ‘Striker of the Match’, while Shahrukh received the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his decisive contribution.
Nyaydhani Knights enter semi-finals
In the day’s opening match, Nyaydhani Knights and Chakradhar Champions played out an entertaining 4-4 draw, confirming the Knights’ place in the semi-finals.
Led by Surendra Singh, the Knights advanced by virtue of their position at the top of the points table. Chakradhar Champions, captained by S.V. Sunil, were driven by Yuvraj Walmiki, who scored a hat-trick, while Ketan delivered a strong performance for the Knights.
The result ensured that the Knights progressed to the next stage of the competition.
