Bhubaneswar: The 73rd All India Police Hockey Championship-2025 concluded today with a grand closing ceremony at the renowned Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati attended the event and presented trophies to the champion teams, Punjab (Men) and CRPF (Women). He also awarded trophies to the runners-up, CRPF (Men) and SSB (Women), as well as the third-place teams, ITBP (Men) and Odisha Police (Women).
Notably, the men’s final match was held this evening between Punjab and CRPF. In a thrilling contest, Punjab defeated CRPF by a margin of 2-1 to claim the title. Similarly, in the women’s final, CRPF faced SSB and emerged victorious with a 1-0 scoreline in another fiercely contested match.
In the women’s category, Odisha Police secured third place, earning the bronze medal by defeating ITBP in a competitive match. In the men’s category, ITBP clinched third place by defeating BSF in a hard-fought game.
The championship saw participation from 26 men’s teams and 9 women’s teams representing various state police forces, central armed police forces, and central police organizations.
During the ceremony, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati congratulated the winning teams and praised the dedication and spirit of the runners-up and all participating teams.
He highlighted that the Indian police have produced exceptional athletes across various sports, bringing pride to the nation. He commended their dual role in safeguarding the nation and excelling in sports as truly admirable.
The Governor also lauded DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania and other senior police officials for successfully organizing this mega event under the supervision of the All India Police Sports Control Board.
He acknowledged the Odisha government’s unwavering support for Indian hockey, emphasizing its significant contributions through sponsorship and infrastructure development. This support has played a crucial role in the Indian men’s hockey team winning bronze medals in two consecutive Olympics—Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Odisha’s excellence in hockey at the national level was also evident, with the state winning the 14th Hockey India Senior Men’s National Championship 2024, reflecting its growing prowess in the sport.
The Governor noted that Odisha is proud to host two world-class hockey stadiums—Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, the latter being the world’s largest seated hockey stadium. He congratulated all players, coaches, and organizers for making the championship memorable.
DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania stated that the championship fosters unity, camaraderie, and friendship among police forces. He expressed delight at the participation of several international hockey stars, including Birendra Lakra and Manpreet Singh, which elevated the event’s prestige. Organizing this championship was a matter of pride and responsibility for Odisha Police, with efforts made to maintain high standards in every aspect.
“This championship is not an end but a new beginning. We should carry the spirit of this sport into our daily work, service, and lives,” he remarked.
The event was attended by distinguished guests, including Additional DGP (Headquarters) and Vice-Chairman of the Organizing Committee Dayal Gangwar; Additional DGP (Armed) and Vice-Chairman of the Organizing Committee Rajesh Kumar; Joint Director, IB, Rajesh Subarna; IG (Training) and Secretary of the Organizing Committee Anup Kumar Sahu; and Hockey India President Padma Shri Dilip Tirkey.
Numerous dignitaries, senior police officers, retired officials, team managers, captains, and players were present, contributing to the success of the event and celebrating national unity and athletic excellence.
Odisha Police extended heartfelt congratulations to all stakeholders, winning teams, and participants for their contributions to the successful organization of the 73rd All India Police Hockey Championship-2025.
