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‘It was our belief that carried us to the title,’ says Rarh Bengal Tigers skipper Rupinder

Rarh Bengal Tigers triumphed 4-3 over Hyderabad Toofans in a thrilling HIL 2024-25 final, with Jugraj Singh striking a hat-trick.

‘It was our belief that carried us to the title,’ says Rarh Bengal Tigers skipper Rupinder
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By

The Bridge Desk

Updated: 2 Feb 2025 7:43 AM GMT

The Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 season ended spectacularly as Rarh Bengal Tigers edged out Hyderabad Toofans 4-3 in a gripping final at a packed Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Saturday.

Jugraj Singh (25’, 32’, 35’) delivered for the Tigers when it mattered the most as he netted a scintillating hat-trick in the final.

The title-deciding match lived up to its billing as it went down to the wire with the scoreline levelled at 3-3 till the very last quarter. However, Sam Lane (54’) converted a penalty corner with just six minutes remaining on the clock to seal the deal for the Tigers.

Talking about his team’s roller-coaster journey in the tournament, Rupinder Pal Singh, the captain of the Rarh Bengal Tigers, said, “It has been an incredible journey for us, especially with the return of the Hockey India League after a seven-year hiatus. We owe a big thanks to Hockey India for organising the tournament so flawlessly. Our path as a team had its share of ups and downs, but in the end, everything came together perfectly. It was our belief that carried us to the title, and I am immensely proud of my team for their hard work and resilience throughout the tournament.”

Talking about his strategy for the final, Rupinder said, “We were determined to execute our penalty corner strategies more effectively, especially after missing key opportunities in the semifinals. In the final, it was crucial for us to make the most of those chances, and we did. Additionally, we concentrated on tightening our defensive structure and maintaining maximum possession. All of these efforts helped us bounce back in the match and ultimately secure the title.”

Notably, the Rarh Bengal Tigers had topped the group stage as well with 19 points from 10 games, having secured 6 wins, 3 losses in regular time, and 1 shootout defeat. In the semifinals, it defeated Tamil Nadu Dragons 6-5 in the shootout after a 2-2 draw.

Jugraj Singh turned out to be the standout performer for the Tigers as he emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with 12 goals to his name.

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