Raipur, October 2026: In the first low-scoring encounter of the day in the Chhattisgarh Hockey League, 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 brought the Titans back into the match with an equaliser in the fourth quarter. The result means the Titans will have to wait a little longer to secure their place in the Chhattisgarh Hockey League semi-finals.
Member of Parliament Santosh Pandey, News24 Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh Editor Manoj Baghel, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Kayaking and Canoeing Association Secretary Prashant Raghuvanshi, BALCO Assistant Manager Rohtash, bodybuilding referee Sanjay Sharma, Tourism Officer Santosh Raidas and SBI AGM Ramdas Manjhi were also present at the stadium to watch the match. They presented awards to the best-performing players of the match.
While the forwards and attacking lines have received much of the praise in the league matches so far, the defensive performances of both teams were particularly commendable today. Both teams had conceded fewer than 10 goals in the tournament so far.
The opening quarter between the two teams, which occupy the top positions in the league standings, reflected their defensive strength. Both sides launched several attacks, but neither managed to convert an opportunity into a goal. Heavy rainfall caused by Cyclone Arnab made playing conditions somewhat difficult.
Despite the challenging conditions, the Knights, who have already secured a place in the semi-finals, broke the deadlock towards the end of the second quarter. Ketan scored his sixth goal of the tournament by sending the ball past the goalkeeper off a rebound. The Knights went into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
There was little action in the third quarter. The Knights’ defence made it extremely difficult for the opposition’s forward line to find the back of the net. The team also ensured that the ball did not touch any player’s foot inside the circle, allowing the score to remain 1-0.
However, with the match at stake, Mainpat needed to produce something special. The Titans committed more players to attack, and their approach eventually paid off when Mohit Nayak scored the equaliser.
Ketan received the Striker of the Match award, while Mohit Nayak was named Player of the Match.
Mainpat will have another opportunity to secure a semi-final berth when they face Sanskardhani Strikers on October 29.
