Indian Navy’s Selvaraj K scores a goal against Malaysia Junior National during the 96th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai, on Saturday, 12/07/2025.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ
In seven previous editions spread over the last 10 years, Indian Railways and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) have won the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament thrice each.
The two institutional teams have been dominant, have the best players from the country, and have mastered the art of peaking at the right time and absorbing the pressure.
Railways, looking for a hat-trick of titles, will have quite a tough battle against arch-rival IOC in the semifinal to be held here on Saturday. In the other semifinal, Indian Navy will take on Indian Army.
While three teams — IOC, Railways, and Army — have been regulars in the last four stage and have won the tournament earlier, one team hasn’t done so, and will be eager to lay its hands on the coveted trophy.
Navy, having not been invited last year due to its poor performance the previous year, has reorganised and recouped under its head coach Ajay Kumar, and has now taken the tournament by storm.
Its performance has been near-flawless as it comfortably defeated Karnataka, Central Board for Direct Taxes, the Malaysian National junior team and former champion IOC in Pool-B.
The manner of its victory over IOC was a lesson in masterclass. Trailing by a goal, Navy blew away a team that has nearly a dozen International players, in a matter of six minutes in the fourth quarter by scoring three goals.
Railways, IOC and Army have been off-colour in the league matches, but one can’t take them for granted.
Come Saturday, all eyes will be on Navy.
Published – July 18, 2025 05:32 pm IST
