In the tight contest between the table-toppers Kalinga Lancers and the second-placed team Ranchi Royals in Qualifier 1 of the Men’s Hockey League 2025/26 (Men’s HIL 2025/26) on Friday night (January 23), Lancers edged out Royals by 2–1 to qualify for the Final of the tournament.
Belgian Alexander Hendrickx scored both goals for Kalinga Lancers, who earned a 2–0 lead in the early third quarter, before Ranchi Royals’ Mandeep Singh scored a goal for his team. In the 12th minute, Alexander opened the scoreline from a penalty corner. In the 32nd minute, the scoreline became 2–0 for Lancers, as Alexander scored from another penalty corner. Eight minutes later, Mandeep Singh scored from a penalty corner, but his team failed to manage the equaliser, as the scoreline hadn’t been moved since then.
It is the first time that the Kalinga Lancers have qualified for the Men’s HIL Final. They will play the tournament Final on Monday night (January 26), against the winners of Qualifier 2, where the Qualifier 1 losers Ranchi Royals will face the Eliminator winners Hyderabad Toofans. The Qualifier 2 has been scheduled on Sunday (January 25).
Men’s Hockey India League 2025/26 (Men's HIL 2025/26): Kalinga Lancers vs Ranchi Royals
Final Scoreline: 2–1
Shots: 2–2
Circle Entries: 19–20
Penalty Corners: 5–6
