Key Highlights of the Tournament:
• Commanding Champions: Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) lifts the coveted title after a dominant 4-1 victory in the grand finale.
• Runners-Up Finish: All India Police Sports Control Board settles for the second spot after a tough final battle.
• Podium Finisher: Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) edges past its rivals to claim the 3rd place finish.
• Star Performer: Amandeep Lakra scores a brilliant brace in the final to seal the championship for the Railways.
• Host City: The high-octane national tournament successfully concluded at the multi-sport venue in Hyderabad, Telangana.
HYDERABAD: Bringing the curtains down on a highly competitive domestic hockey calendar, the 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026 officially concluded with a spectacular display of tactical brilliance in Hyderabad. In a high-stakes final match that produced dramatic finishes, the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) stamped its absolute authority on the tournament by lifting the championship trophy after registering a clinical 4-1 victory over the All India Police Sports Control Board.
Throughout the final match, the Railway Sports Promotion Board team looked in inspired form, penetrating the opposition's defensive circles with aggressive baseline runs and flawless penalty corner execution. The scoring opened in the 20th minute when Deep Atul found a crucial loophole in the All India Police Sports Control Board's defense to slot home a brilliant field goal, putting the Railways ahead 1-0.
The momentum shifted completely in the second half. In the 36th minute, RSPB's forward Rohit executed a beautiful strike to double the lead to 2-0. Showing true resilience, the All India Police Sports Control Board struck back instantly in the very same minute, with Shubham scoring a lone reply to make it 2-1, offering a brief ray of hope for the runners-up.
However, the final quarter belonged entirely to the Railways' star drag-flicker, Amandeep Lakra. Lakra dismantled the opposition’s structure by striking twice in quick succession—converting crucial opportunities in the 41st and 42nd minutes of the match. His back-to-back goals extended the scoreline to an unassailable 4-1, sealing the national championship title in absolute style for the Railway Sports Promotion Board.
The Battle for the Third Place Podium Finish
Earlier in the day, the classification match for the third-place podium spot witnessed an intense tactical battle between two corporate giants: the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) and the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG).
Both defensive lineups held their ground firmly for the majority of the match, blocking multiple penalty corner opportunities. The decisive breakthrough came late in the fourth quarter when PSPB's experienced forward, Affan Yousuf, struck a powerful field goal in the 53rd minute. Yousuf's lone brilliant strike proved to be the absolute difference between the two sides, helping the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board secure a well-deserved 1-0 victory to claim the third position, leaving the Comptroller & Auditor General of India to settle for the fourth spot.
According to the official tournament release by Hockey India, the 2026 domestic championship served as a massive platform for national selectors to evaluate elite domestic talent for upcoming international tours. The tournament stood out for producing high-scoring contests, showcasing structural developments in Indian domestic hockey academies.
Final Tournament Standings:
1. Champions: Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB)
2. Runners-up: All India Police Sports Control Board
3. 3rd Place: Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB)
4. 4th Place: Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG)