S.L. Rajiv Reddy, organising secretary - MCC, Arun Murugappan, executive chairman - Tube Investments of India Limited, R. Karthi, president - MCC, and Niranjan Mudaliar, honorary secretary - MCC at the press conference ahead of the 97th All Infia Murugappa Hockey Gold Cup hockey tournament. | Photo Credit: R. RAGU
The 97th edition of the All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament will begin at the SDAT Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Thursday, with 10 teams vying for the title until November 1.
A team from Malaysia will participate for the second consecutive year, adding an international presence to the tournament.
The teams have been divided into two pools, with the top two from each qualifying for the semifinals on October 31. The final will be held under floodlights on November 1.
The winner will receive ₹7 lakh, while the runner-up will take home ₹5 lakh. Each losing semifinalist will receive ₹50,000.
Individual awards will also be presented to the best forward, best midfielder, best goalkeeper, the most promising player of the tournament, and the player of the final. Each award winner will receive ₹10,000 and a high-end bicycle.
Indian Railways, the defending champion, will seek a fourth consecutive title.
MCC president R. Karthik, secretary Niranjan Mudaliar, tournament organising secretary S.L. Rajiv Reddy, and TI India executive chairman Arun Murugappan (representing Murugappa Group) addressed the press at the Madras Cricket Club (MCC) on Wednesday. Olympians V. Baskaran, Adam Sinclair, and Muneer Sait were also present.
The teams: Pool-A: Indian Railways - RSPB, Indian Army, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Punjab National Bank, Hockey Karnataka.
Pool-B: Indian Navy, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, SAI-NCOE Bhopal, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Malaysia Hockey Confederation juniors.
Published - October 21, 2026 06:38 pm IST