Sri Lanka Maroons win Cargills International Masters Cup
The Sri Lanka Masters Maroons hockey team, led by former national striker Nadith Kudagama, emerged unbeaten champions after defeating Dubai Hockey Club 4-0 in the inaugural Cargills International Masters Hockey Cup 2025, concluded at the Colombo Astro Turf.
The Sri Lanka Maroons team launched an aggressive attack from the outset of the final match in the three-day tournament. The hosts opened the scoring in the second minute with a penalty corner conversion by former Army SC forward Asanka Welagedara. Eight minutes in, another former Army player, Harendra Dharmarathna, doubled the lead with a well-executed penalty corner goal. At halftime, the Sri Lanka Maroons led 2-0.
The jubilant Sri Lanka Maroons team with the Masters International Cup (Back row from left): Thilina Perera, Duncan Devendra (Secretary, SLMHA), Nadith Kudagama (Captain), Ashok Peries (Coach), Dennis de Rozairo (former President, Mercantile Hockey Association – Guest of Honour), Pirasanth Sivagnanam (Managing Director, Cargills Convenient Foods – Chief Guest), Fouzul Hameed (President, SLMHA), Ananda Silva (Manager), Ishanka Jayasundera (Middle row from left): Antony Suresh Kumar, Shihar Aneez, Damith Panditharatne, Maithri Ranasinghe, Sameera Wijekoon, Anju Hewage, Sameera Perera, Pramesh Cramer, Sandun Gajanayake (Front row from left): Sanjay Edgar Uduwara, Harendra Dharmarathna, Asanka Welagedara, Narada Perera, Rasiah Sathya Janagan (Shakthi)
Dubai HC, comprised of expatriate players, had three scoring opportunities in the second half, including a solitary penalty corner. However, the Sri Lankan veterans maintained dominance throughout. Early in the second half, Welagedara added the third goal via a field effort, and just two minutes later, former Sri Lanka skipper and Army veteran Ishanka Jayasundera sealed the win with the fourth goal, to secure a 4-0 victory for the hosts. Harendra Dharmarathna was adjudged Player of the Final for his impressive stick work and clinical penalty corner finish.
The 13-match tournament, held entirely under newly installed floodlights, featured six masters teams—two from the United Arab Emirates, one each from India and Oman, and two from hosts Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Maroons, coached by former national player Ashok Pieris and managed by Ananda de Silva, displayed dominant form throughout. They defeated Oman 4-0 in the opener, drew 0-0 in a rematch, and convincingly beat the Dubai HC ‘B’ team 4-0 in both encounters.
Dubai HC ‘A’ defeated the Indian team 1-0, drew 0-0 in their second meeting, and beat the Sri Lanka Gold team 2-1 on the second day before drawing 1-1 with them on the final day. The tournament featured over 120 players, including 80 international participants, underscoring Sri Lanka’s potential as a growing sports tourism hub.
Organised by Sri Lanka Masters Hockey Association (SLMHA), the tournament was sponsored by Cargills as title sponsor, with co-sponsorships from Hameedia’s and UTN London. It marked Sri Lanka’s first international hockey event since 2006 and set a new benchmark for the sport in the country.
To further promote the game among youth, SLMHA also hosted a schools hockey carnival featuring S. Thomas’ College, St. Joseph’s College, Ananda College and St. Benedict’s College in the Boys’ category. The Girls’ category included Musaeus College and Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya.