RSPB Clinches Third Straight Murugappa Gold Cup Title with Tactical Win Over Indian Navy

Defending champions Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) reaffirmed their dominance in Indian hockey by clinching a third consecutive title at the 96th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup. They defeated a determined Indian Navy side 3-1 in the final at the SDAT-Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

After a sluggish start in the group stage, Railways found their rhythm when it mattered most. Their disciplined defence and strategic precision in the knockout stages culminated in a clinical performance against Navy, who were unbeaten until the final.

RSPB struck first blood just 10 minutes into the contest. Shivam Anand, later named Best Forward of the Tournament, scooped a high shot into the roof of the net off a sharp pass from Gursahibjit Singh, who would go on to be named Man of the Match for his all-round performance. Sayyad Niyaz Rahim nearly doubled the lead moments later, but Navy’s defender Zameer executed a vital clearance on the goal line.

The Indian Navy responded with spirit. Aakib Rahim Arif levelled the scores with a powerful strike from the top of the circle, giving his side brief hope. But Railways quickly regrouped, showcasing the tactical discipline that defined their tournament. Pankaj Rawat’s flawless penalty corner conversion in the third quarter reclaimed the lead, and Niyaz Rahim put the game to bed in the 57th minute with a thunderous field goal.

“It’s a huge achievement for us to win three titles in a row,” said an elated Sunil Kumar Singh, RSPB’s head coach across all three victories. “We improved after each match. We knew the opponent would depend on the slap shot, so we focused on blocking them once they entered the 25-yard area.”

The Railways’ defence was particularly effective in stifling Navy’s favoured quick passing game, smothering space in the circle and shutting down counter-attacks with precision. The win not only secured silverware but reinforced Railways’ reputation as a tactical powerhouse in domestic hockey.

The champions received a prize purse of ₹7 lakh, while Indian Navy, worthy finalists, took home ₹5 lakh. The awards were presented by M.M. Murugappan, Chairman of CUMI and Chola MS.

MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup 2025 Awards:

• Man of the Match (Final): Gursahibjit Singh (Railways)

• Most Promising Player: Ajinkya Jadhav (Navy)

• Best Forward: Shivam Anand (Railways)

• Best Midfielder: BP Somanna (Tamil Nadu)

• Best Defender: Sushil Dhanwar (Navy)

With their third straight Gold Cup triumph, Railways have etched their name firmly into the tournament’s storied legacy.