Chennai, 26 th October 2026: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) edged past SAI-NCOE, Bhopal, 6-4 in a high-scoring match on Day 4 of the 97th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Chennai on Sunday.
BPCL raced into a 3-0 lead early on, with Devindar Walmiki converting a penalty corner in the 11th minute, Anmol Ekka adding another in the 14th minute and Sudeep Chirmako scoring a field goal in the 16th minute. SAI-NCOE responded quickly through Mohammed Zaid Khan’s field goal in the 18th minute and a field goal from Nitesh Sharma in the 20th minute to make it 3-2. Ekka restored BPCL’s two-goal cushion with his second penalty corner in the 26th minute.
SAI-NCOE pulled back when Nitesh Sharma scored his second field goal in the 35th minute, but Dilbar Barla’s field goal in the 44th minute made it 5-3 for BPCL. Nitesh Sharma struck again in the 49th minute to complete a hat-trick and make it 5-4, but Anmol Ekka sealed the win with his third goal, a field goal in the 60th minute, to make it 6-4.
In the second match of the day, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu (HUTN) and Indian Navy played out a 1-1 draw.
Both defences stood firm in a goalless first half. HUTN broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when Pruthvi G M converted a penalty corner. Indian Navy drew level in the 41st minute through a penalty corner by Ashis Topno. Neither side could find a winner in the closing stages as the match ended in a draw.
The Results:
Pool B: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) 6 (Devindar Walmiki 11th minute, PC; Anmol Ekka 14th minute, PC, 26th minute, PC and 60th minute, FG; Sudeep Chirmako 16th minute, FG; Dilbar Barla 44th minute, FG) beat SAI-NCOE, Bhopal 4 (Mohammed Zaid Khan 18th minute, FG; Nitesh Sharma 20th, 35th and 49th minute, All FG).
Pool B: Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu (HUTN) 1 (Pruthvi G M 31st minute, PC) drew Indian Navy 1 (Ashis Topno 41st minute, PC).
Match schedule: Monday, 26th October 2026
1st Match at 2.30 PM – (Pool A) INDIAN ARMY Vs PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK (PNB)
2nd Match at 4.15 PM – (Pool A) HOCKEY KARNATAKA Vs INDIAN RAILWAYS (RSPB)
3rd Match at 6.00 PM – (Pool B) MALAYSIA HOCKEY CONFEDERATION Vs BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD. (BPCL)
Points Table
| POOL ‘A’ | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points | For | Against | Difference |
| INDIAN RAILWAYS – RSPB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| HOCKEY KARNATAKA | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| INDIAN ARMY | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 |
| POOL’B’ | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points | For | Against | Difference |
| BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| INDIAN NAVY | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| HOCKEY UNIT OF TAMIL NADU | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | -4 |
| SAI – NCOE, BHOPAL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 15 | -5 |
| MALAYSIA HOCKEY CONFEDERATION – JUNIORS | – | – | – | – | – | 0 |
Plant a Goal – A sustainability initiative by the Murugappa Group
As part of this year’s MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament, a special sustainability initiative
successfully introduced last year will continue to drive our green commitment. Under ‘Plant a Goal’, this
year, 20 plant saplings will be planted for every goal scored during the tournament. This initiative symbolises the Group’s commitment to environmental responsibility, linking the excitement of the game
with a lasting ecological impact. The recently concluded MCC-Murugappa Tamil Nadu U-17 Boys & Girls
School Hockey Tournament recorded 205 goals, while the ongoing 97th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold
Cup Hockey Tournament has recorded 53 goals so far. Together, the 258 goals have contributed to the
planting of 5160 saplings at Tharuvaikulam village in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, with the support of local
communities. The initiative reflects the belief that every goal can contribute to both sporting excellence
and a greener future.
About MCC and the tournament
The Madras Cricket Club is one of the premier sports institutions in the country, which organises major national-level tournaments in the disciplines of tennis, squash, cricket, badminton, billiards and hockey.
Originally started as the Madras Challenge Cup in 1901 and later named the AMM Arunachalam Challenge Cup after the first Indian President of Madras Cricket Club, this is the 97th edition of the tournament which along with Murugappa Group in the mid-90s was named MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament. From the early days, this tournament has been the premier hockey event in South India and one of the major competitions in the country attracting top teams and talent.
This tournament has been keenly observed by coaches and administrators for picking talent to represent the country. As the Madras Cricket Club, we are proud to be associated with the All India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament and to be the only sporting club in India to host an event of such magnitude.
About Murugappa Group
A 126-year-old conglomerate with presence across India and the world, the INR 1,056 billion (₹105,582 crore) Murugappa Group has diverse businesses in agriculture, engineering, financial services and more.
The Group has 10 listed companies: Carborundum Universal Limited, CG Power & Industrial Solutions Limited, Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited, Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Limited, Coromandel International Limited, E.I.D.-Parry (India) Limited, NACL Industries Limited, Shanthi Gears Limited, Tube Investments of India Limited, and Wendt (India) Limited. Other major companies include Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Limited and Parry Agro Industries Limited. Brands such as Ajax, Hercules, BSA, Montra, Montra Electric, Mach City, Chola, Chola MS, CG Power, CG Semi, Shanthi Gears, CUMI, Gromor, Paramfos, Parry’s are part of the Group’s illustrious stable.
Abrasives, technical ceramics, electrominerals, electric vehicles, auto components, fans, transformers, signalling equipment for railways, bicycles, fertilisers, sugar, tea, and several other products make up the Group’s business interests.
