HIL 2025-26: Kalinga Lancers beats Tamil Nadu Dragons to maintain unbeaten run; Bengal Tigers edges SG Pipers

Table-topper Kalinga Lancers edged Tamil Nadu Dragons via penalty shootout to remain unbeaten and register its sixth successive win in a tight contest of the Hockey India League at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

Following a 1-1 deadlock after the regulation period, Lancers beat Dragons 4-1 in the shootouts for their second victory through a tie-breaker.

The Tamil Nadu-based team suffered its third loss on the trot.

The determined Dragons seized the momentum in the 19th minute. Following their ill-trapped first penalty corner, Blake Govers beat Krishan Pathak on the left off a penalty stroke.

Five minutes later, Dilpreet Singh deflected in Liam Henderson’s cross from the left. But the Dragons relied on a video referral to get it cancelled.

Dragons maintained the pressure with their organised and quick moves before Lancers got three consecutive short corners and Alexander Hendrickx drew parity with a fast one in the penultimate quarter.

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In the shoot-out, Cooper Burns, Angad Bir Singh, Antoine Kina, and Arthur van Doren scored for the host, while Uttam Singh was the lone scorer for the Dragons. Custodian Jed Snowden, replacing a brilliant Pathak in the tie-breaker, made a superb save.

Defending champion Shrachi Bengal Tigers erased a two-goal deficit to beat bottom-placed S.G. Pipers 3-2 in their last round robin engagement to post its third win and finish on a high.

Pipers struck early when Aditya Lalage passed it to Dilraj Singh and the latter tapped it in.

Pipers, who saw three of their goals being disallowed due to different reasons, doubled their lead with Tomas Domene’s penalty corner conversion.

The relentless Tigers earned six short corners, and Jugraj Singh found the mark with a low flick to reduce the margin before the final break. Abhishek Nain utilised an aerial ball to equalise. Affan Yousuf’s winner frustrated Pipers in a contest that was interrupted by heated exchanges.

Published on Jan 18, 2026