The Interuniversity Hockey Championship of the 15th Sri Lanka University Games was concluded successfully at the Rajarata University Sports Grounds recently. After some exhilarating actions and nail-biting finishes for over a week’s time, the Colombo University boys and Sabaragamuwa girls showed their strength, skill and spirit to clinch the titles.
Women’s Segment
In the girl’s quarterfinals, the University of Sri Jayawardhanepura, University of Colombo and Sabaragamuwa University sides set the tone early by finding the back of the net multiple times against Jaffna University, University of Ruhuna and Rajarata University, respectively. But the game between the arch rivals from the University of Peradeniya and the University of Moratuwa was truly a nail-biter. After the full time, the game was even-steven with a score of one all. Then the lasses from the University of Peradeniya held their nerve to clinch a crucial win at the penalty strokes.
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In the first semifinal, J’pura ladies came up with a dazzling performance to outclass the University of Peradeniya side with five unanswered goals. In the next semi-final, the Sabaragamuwa and Colombo sides went for a fierce battle. Both sides displayed an attacking mindset in the field, but their defensive players and the goalkeepers did an exceptional job to prevent every opportunity, and players failed to score until the long whistle. There was a toe-to-toe battle in the penalty stroke play, and the Sabaragamuwa side made a single and winning save to book their place in the final.
In the much-awaited final, the defending champions, J’pura, took on the spirited Sabaragamuwa outfit. During the game J’pura managed to find the back of the net for once, while E. M. P. M. Ekanayake scored a vital goal for the Sabra team to hang in the game. After a tied game, Sabaragamuwa held their nerve to score the only successful penalty stroke, which eventually sealed them the title.
During the tournament, the performance and the leadership of the captain, Sachini Devagiri, and the vice captain, Delaxana, were decisive on their journey towards the title. Sachini, who is a former player from St Anthony’s Convent, Katugastota, was the equal top scorer for the winning side with 5 goals. W. G. A. S. K. Wijesooriya also scored five valuable goals for the champions. Further, M. S. A. M. M. A. A. Bandara was elegant and excellent with the stick and scored four goals during the tournament.
SLUG 2025 – Hockey Women’s Championship Results
Quarterfinals
University of Sri Jayawardhanepura 04 – 00 Jaffna University
University of Colombo 06 – 00 University of Ruhuna
University of Peradeniya 01 – 01 University of Moratuwa
(University of Peradeniya won on penalty strokes 2 – 0)
Sabaragamuwa University 03 – 00 Rajarata University
Semifinals
University of Sri Jayawardhanepura 05 – 00 University of Peradeniya
Sabaragamuwa University 00 – 00 University of Colombo
(Sabaragamuwa University won on penalty strokes 3 – 2)
3rd place game
University of Peradeniya 01 – 00 University of Colombo
The finals
Sabaragamuwa University 01 – 01 University of Sri Jayawardhanepura
(Sabaragamuwa University won on penalty strokes 1 – 0)
Men’s Segment
The men’s segment saw more interesting clashes between more balanced sides compared to the women’s championship. In the quarterfinals, the University of Peradeniya, the University of Colombo and the University of Moratuwa displayed their grit and grace to book their places in the semifinals. The battle between the University of Ruhuna and the University of Kelaniya went down to the wire as the game ended in a tie with a score of one all. During the penalty strokes, the lads from Ruhuna managed to secure their spot in the semifinals.
In the closely contested semifinals, the commanding performance from the University of Peradeniya earned them a much-deserved victory against the University of Moratuwa outfit. In the other semifinal, the University of Colombo went to the final with a penalty stroke victory over the University of Ruhuna after a tied score at full time.
The men’s final lived up to every bit of its billing, and the vibrant players tried their level best with elegant pushes, timely flicks and powerful hits. After the full quota of time, there was nothing between the teams to separate them. After one all score, the game went for the penalty strikes to decide the champions. There, the University of Peradeniya and University of Colombo sides nailed all three opportunities by setting a stage for another set of penalty strokes by keeping the spectators at the edge of their seats. The Colombo lads had the last laugh as they managed to make a save finally to clinch the championship by proving their dominance in the field for yet another year.
SLUG 2025 – Hockey Men’s Championship Results
Quarterfinals
University of Peradeniya 03 – 00 University of Jaffna
University of Colombo 03 – 02 University of Sri Jayawardhanepura
University of Ruhuna 01 – 01 University of Kelaniya
(University of Ruhuna won on penalty strokes 04 – 02)
University of Moratuwa 01 – 00 Sabaragamuwa University
Semifinals
University of Peradeniya 02 – 01 University of Moratuwa
University of Colombo 01 – 01 University of Ruhuna
(University of Colombo won on penalty strokes 04 – 02)
3rd place game
University of Moratuwa 01 – 00 University of Ruhuna
The Finals
University of Peradeniya 01 – 01 University of Colombo
(University of Colombo won on penalties 1st penalties 3 – 3, 2nd penalties 2 – 1)
Women’s Champions – Sabaragamuwa University
Women’s 1st runners-up – University of Sri Jayawardhanepura
Women’s 2nd runners-up – University of Peradeniya, PC – Perabeats fb page
Men’s Champions – University of Colombo
Men’s 1st runners-up – University of Peradeniya, PC – Perabeats fb page
Men’s 2nd runners-up – University of Moratuwa
