Bailadila Bulls Register First Win, Keeping Semi-Final Hopes Alive

Raipur, October 29, 2026/ In a rain-affected hockey match against Rajdhani Royals, the Chinglensana Singh-led Bailadila Bulls registered their first victory in the Chhattisgarh Hockey League on Wednesday, winning by 1-0. The result keeps the Bulls in contention for a semi-final spot, while the Royals have been eliminated from the tournament without recording a win.

The match began nearly an hour late due to rain, but the Bulls, who were searching for their first league victory, did not have to wait long for their opening goal. Rahul Yadav struck a powerful shot when an opportunity opened up inside the circle, giving his team an early lead. Despite several chances throughout the match, it remained the only goal scored in the 60 minutes of play.

With the wet surface making it difficult for the Royals to even enter the Bulls’ half, the Bulls came close to scoring a second goal. Gopal Paikra directed the ball towards the goalpost, but the umpire disallowed the goal.

Despite the difficult conditions, players from both teams gave their best. Passes frequently failed to reach their intended targets, while the speed of shots was considerably reduced by the wet ground.

Bulls player Jaskaran earned a couple of penalty corners, but poor execution of the injections on both occasions prevented the team from converting them into goals. The Bulls went into half-time with a 1-0 lead.

The players continued to battle the rain in the third and fourth quarters. Water accumulated inside the circle, preventing the forward lines from executing their planned strategies effectively. Overall, the league campaign proved disappointing for the Royals. Their inability to score from a single penalty corner was a major factor in their defeat. Despite the loss, Himanshu was named Player of the Match, while Rahul Yadav received the Striker of the Match award.

Nyaydhani Knights and Manpat Titans Play Out 1-1 Draw

In the first match, which ended in low-scoring draw, Nyaydhani Knights and Mainpat Titans played out a 1-1 draw. Ketan opened the scoring for the Knights in the second quarter, while Mohit Nayak equalised for the Titans in the fourth. The result means the Titans will have to wait a little longer to secure their place in the Chhattisgarh Hockey League semi-finals.

Both teams launched a few attacks in the opening quarter, but neither could convert an opportunity into a goal. The Knights, who have already secured their semi-final berth, broke the deadlock towards the end of the second quarter. Ketan scored his sixth goal of the tournament by putting a rebound past the goalkeeper, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead at half-time.

The third quarter was largely uneventful. The Knights’ strong defence made it difficult for the opposition forwards to find a scoring opportunity. They also ensured that the ball did not touch any player’s foot inside the circle, keeping the score at 1-0. However, the Titans needed a decisive response at a crucial stage of the match. They committed more players to attack, and the move paid off when Mohit Nayak scored the equaliser.

Ketan received the Striker of the Match award, while Mohit was named Player of the Match. The Titans will have another opportunity to qualify for the semi-finals when they face Sanskardhani Strikers on October 29.