Jugraj Singh has developed a liking for scoring in finals. At the men’s Asian Champions Trophy final last year, when the match was in a deadlock for India against China, he stepped upfield and scored a rare field goal. In the Hockey India League this year, he smashed three goals for a hat-trick in the final as his side, Bengal Tigers, lifted the title.

And on Tuesday in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh Jugraj scored twice as powerhouses Punjab reclaimed the country’s top honours in domestic hockey as they came from a goal down to beat Madhya Pradesh 4-1 in the final of the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025. After missing out last year when Odisha clinched their first title, Punjab were back on the top of the podium for their third title in the last five editions.

Punjab were the red-hot favourites on paper, purely based on the star-power in their squad, studded with Olympic medallists. Led by two-time bronze medallist Hardik Singh, Punjab started the match cautiously, but still created

Madhya Pradesh took the lead in the in the 28th minute through a penalty corner converted by Pratap Lakra. Jugraj, who was the leading runscorer in the HIL, then scored a critical equaliser for Hardik Singh’s men at the stroke of half time to level the match. In the second half it was all Punjab as Jaskaran Singh put his side in the lead in the 38th minute, followed by Maninder Singh scoring in the 46th, both being field goals. Jugraj then applied the finishing touches scoring his 2nd in the 49th minute. Jugraj finished as the second leading goal-scorer in the tournament, behind Uttar Pradesh’s Sharda Nand Tiwari.

Earlier in the day, hosts Uttar Pradesh clinched bronze by beating Manipur 5-1 in the 3rd-4th place playoff. Tiwari scored once in the match, while Kushwaha Sourabh Anand had a brace to his name.





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