Deputy CM Arun Sao and Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal attend Chhattisgarh Hockey League match
Raipur, October 2026: Sanskardhani Strikers registered their first victory in the Chhattisgarh Hockey League by defeating Lalit Upadhyay-led Rajdhani Royals 4-2 on Tuesday. The Strikers, captained by Shamsher, delivered an impressive performance, with Ashish Tani Purti and Shahrukh scoring two goals each.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao and Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal were among the dignitaries who arrived at the stadium to watch the match. They were joined by Chhattisgarh Capital Region Development Authority CEO Chandan Kumar, Sharda Group Chairman (Finance) Yogendra Shukla, SBI Regional Manager Adarsh Srivastava, Goyal Group Marketing Head Chandrashekhar, and Chhattisgarh Pradesh Softball Association General Secretary OP Sharma.
The match was crucial for both Sanskardhani Strikers and Rajdhani Royals, as neither team had secured a victory earlier in the tournament. With their chances of remaining in contention at stake, both sides appeared under pressure in the opening stages.
Ashish Opens Scoring Through Penalty Corner
Both teams began cautiously in the first quarter, finding it difficult to launch attacks or penetrate the opposition's circle. Their primary focus was on maintaining possession.
Despite the cautious start, Ashish broke the deadlock for Sanskardhani Strikers by converting a penalty corner.
After a prolonged struggle, Rajdhani Royals fought back just before the half-time hooter. Roshan scored with a reverse hit to level the score. He skilfully manoeuvred past defenders inside the circle, created space on the left and unleashed an excellent shot to bring the Royals back into the contest.
Shahrukh and Ashish Put Strikers in Control
Rajdhani Royals had largely maintained a solid defensive structure, but a brief lapse that left Shahrukh unmarked proved costly. Shahrukh capitalised on the opportunity with a reverse flick from just inside the circle to put the Strikers ahead.
Sanskardhani then strengthened their advantage when Ashish converted another penalty corner, taking his tournament tally to nine goals.
With one minute remaining in the third quarter, Shahrukh struck again. He received an excellent pass from the right, right in front of the post, and converted it to extend the Strikers' lead.
Rajdhani Royals managed to pull one goal back through Lalit, who scored from a rebound following a penalty corner. However, the Strikers held on to secure a 4-2 victory.
Ashish was named Striker of the Match, while Shahrukh received the Player of the Match award.
Nyaydhani Knights Enter Semifinals After 4-4 Draw
In the day's opening match, the semifinalists were confirmed after Nyaydhani Knights, led by Surendra Singh, drew 4-4 with SV Sunil's Chakradhar Champions.
Nyaydhani Knights advanced to the semifinals by virtue of their position at the top of the points table.
Yuvraj Valmiki emerged as the standout performer for Chakradhar Champions, scoring a hat-trick of three goals. Ketan delivered an impressive performance for Nyaydhani Knights.
The draw ensured the Knights progressed to the next stage, while the league continued to deliver competitive encounters as teams fought for a place in the semifinals.
