Who Won the Opening Day of the Masters Cup Hockey?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Punjab and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu excelled in men’s matches.
- Karnataka and Maharashtra showcased their strength in women's play.
- Exciting performances, including a hat-trick by Sneha C..
- 11 teams in men’s and 8 teams in women’s categories are competing.
- Finals will take place on June 27.
Chennai, June 18 (NationPress) Punjab and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu emerged victorious in the men’s section, while Karnataka and Maharashtra claimed wins in the women’s category on the inaugural day of the highly anticipated 1st Hockey India Masters Cup 2025 held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
In the opening match, Hockey Karnataka triumphed over Kerala Hockey with a dominating score of 7-0. Sneha C. (15’, 17’, 50’) made history by scoring the first-ever hat-trick of the tournament, establishing a formidable lead. Captain K.K. Krithika (42’, 55’) added two goals to the tally, while Usha Vinaykumar (22’) and Josephine Lore Sequeira (50’) each netted once, securing the opening victory.
In the next match, Hockey Punjab narrowly defeated Le Puducherry Hockey with a score of 3-2. Goals from Pavninder Singh (15’), Dharam Pal Singh (36’), and Captain Ripudaman Kumar (42’) clinched the win for Hockey Punjab, while Delhi Ganesh (21’) and N Kamala Kannan (47’) managed to score for Le Puducherry.
The last match of the day saw the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu overpower Kerala Hockey with a staggering score of 8-0. Ramadoss V. (14’, 44’) was the standout performer, scoring twice. Additional goals came from Sudharsan S (28’), Thamaraikannan (32’), Captain Adam Antony Sinclair (34’), Vinoth Kumar A.P. (35’), Cedric Marcellin D Cruz (40’), and Sathish Kumar (43’), each contributing one goal.
Another match between Hockey Himachal and Hockey Maharashtra in the women’s section was officially awarded as a forfeit, resulting in a 5-0 victory for Hockey Maharashtra.
In total, 11 teams will compete in the men’s section and 8 teams in the women’s category for the prestigious title.
The elite teams in the women’s category include Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Haryana, Hockey Himachal, Hockey Karnataka, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Punjab, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, and Kerala Hockey, all vying for top honors.
Additionally, a total of eleven teams, including Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Chandigarh, Hockey Haryana, Hockey Karnataka, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Punjab, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Kerala Hockey, Le Puducherry Hockey, and Manipur Hockey will compete for the trophy, with the finals set for June 27.