Indian Bank Triumph Over IOB in Seven-Goal Thriller to Lift Nuo Clinic TPL 3.0 🏑 Trophy
- Dr Prakash Ayyadurai
- Sep 1
- 6 min read
A Grand Finale Under Egmore’s Floodlights
The arch-rivals of Chennai hockey – Indian Bank and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) – clashed in a blockbuster final of the Nuo Clinic Tiruvallur Premier League (TPL) 3.0, 2025, at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Egmore.
The stands were brimming with energy, packed with the Chennai Hockey Fans Association (CHFA) office bearers, IOB officials and families, press scribes, and the members and office bearers of Hockey Tiruvallur and SM Nagar Hockey, Avadi. Every move was met with thunderous applause.
Padmashri Olympian V. Baskaran noted:
“I have not seen such a huge crowd for a regional league in over two decades. This is a very positive sign for hockey in Tamil Nadu.”
Adding grandeur to the occasion, the evening was graced by:
Hon’ble Minister Thiru. S. M. Nasar, Minister for Minorities Welfare & Non Resident Tamils Welfare (Chief Guest)
Mr. V. Chandrasekaran, General Manager, Indian Bank (Guest of Honour)
Mr. V. Ayyadurai, Chairman, Ayyaar Bawan
Mr. Sirish Singaram, Co-Founder, Nuo Clinic (Title Sponsor)
Mr. Mohammed Riaz, Olympian
Mr.Thirumalvalavan, Olympian
Mr.C R Kumar, Indian Coach
Mr.Udayakumar, CHA
1st Quarter – Indian Bank Strike First
The game burst into life right from the start. Within minutes, B. Sathish converted a penalty corner (8’) to give Indian Bank a 1-0 lead. The exchanges thereafter were intense, with both teams probing for openings, but IB held on to their early advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Score after Q1: Indian Bank 1 – 0 IOB
2nd Quarter – Defensive Resilience
The second quarter turned into a battle of attrition. Indian Bank pressed hard to extend their lead, while IOB’s midfield and defense held firm, seeking the equaliser on counterattacks. Despite the struggle and a few half-chances, both goalkeepers stood tall.
Half-time Score: Indian Bank 1 – 0 IOB
3rd Quarter – Four Goals in Frenzy
The game truly came alive in the third quarter. Indian Bank cranked up the pressure, forcing two penalty corners. From one of them, B. P. Somanna (34’) made no mistake, doubling their advantage to 2-0.
But IOB were not about to fold. In a lightning counter, Sudeep Chirmako (39’) finished off a crisp move with a superb field goal. Just minutes later, Ashik N. R (41’) added another with a blistering strike, and suddenly, the game was tied 2-2.
The stadium erupted, particularly with the vociferous IOB supporters, whose cheers echoed across Egmore.
Score after Q3: Indian Bank 2 – 2 IOB
4th Quarter – Decider in the Dying Minutes
The fourth quarter was hockey at its dramatic best. IOB mounted heavy pressure and earned two penalty corners. Off the second, Manoj Kumar (49’) slotted home to put IOB ahead for the first time, 3-2.
Sensing danger, Indian Bank regrouped. Their midfield pressed relentlessly, and once again, B. P. Somanna (43’) had already restored parity earlier with another precise drag-flick from a PC, making it 3-3.
The game looked destined for a shootout until the 58th minute. Against the run of play, Stalin Abhilash produced a brilliant field goal, stunning IOB’s defense and sending Indian Bank fans into ecstasy.
Final Score: Indian Bank 4 – 3 Indian Overseas Bank
A fitting finale indeed — a seven-goal humdinger that had everything: pace, skill, drama, and a last-minute winner.
👥 Team Lists
Indian Bank:
Stalin Abhilash, Santhosh Kumar, Vinodhan V, B. Sathish, Akshayakumar V (C), B. P. Somanna, Heartlin James Anthuvan, A. Kumar, Saravanakumar G, Raja V, Anand Y, Nakul Malnad, Aryan Uthappa M. T, Silver Stalin S, Sathiyaguru P, Abhishek, Dhivakar R (GK), Subramani M (GK).
Team Manager: S. Thirumalvalavan
Indian Overseas Bank:
Dilip Kumar (GK), Ashik N R, Arul Stalin David, S. M. Rafeeq, Sumit Kindo, B. N. Chelsea Madappa, M. Ajith Kumar, Amerdeep Ekka, Mangal Kispotta, D. Muthu Selvan, Vinod Rayar, K. H. Shan (GK) (C), N. Senthil Kumar, Patras Tirkey, Manoj Kumar, Prajwal Ravi Bijawad, Balachandar, Sudeep Chirmako.
Coach: D. Muthukumar
Team Manager: B. Arunkumar
👨⚖️ Match Officials
Umpires: Albert, Premkumar
Video Umpire: R. S. Suryaprakash
Judges: Lakshmi Narayanan (Scoring), Navaneethakrishnan (Timing)
Technical Officer: Abdus Samad
Trophy Presentation & Celebrations
The Nuo Clinic TPL 3.0 Rolling Trophy, along with ₹50,000 prize money and gold medals, was awarded to Champions Indian Bank by Hon’ble Chief Guest Thiru. S. M. Nasar, Minister for Minorities Welfare & NRT Welfare. The Minister inaugurated the match at 5:30 PM and watched the entire game with enthusiasm, applauding the players’ skill and fighting spirit.
The Runners-Up Trophy (KGS Memorial Trophy), along with ₹30,000 prize money and silver medals, was presented to Indian Overseas Bank.
The third-placed team, AGORC, received ₹20,000 and bronze medals from the Chief Guest.
TPL Dream 11 Honors
The Dream Team of the Tournament, honoured with gold medals by the Padmashri V Baskaran:
Arun Prasath (Income Tax)
Veera Tamizhan (AGORC)
Praveen (Moscow Magic)
Yogesh (SM Nagar, Avadi)
Abbas (Pattabiram Strikers)
Anand (Indian Bank)
Tharun (Dhyand Veerans)
Manoj Kumar (IOB)
Dilli Babu (SM Nagar, Avadi)
Sethu Pandian (Southern Railway)
B. P. Somanna (Indian Bank)
🎤 Closing Remarks
Dr. Prakash Ayyadurai, President of Hockey Tiruvallur, addressed the media alongside Padmashri Olympian V. Baskaran, reflecting on the meteoric growth of TPL and its impact on reviving hockey culture in Tamil Nadu.
The evening concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks by Mr. S. M. Hamesh Kumar, Vice President of Hockey Tiruvallur, acknowledging the sponsors, dignitaries, officials, volunteers, and the roaring fans who made this edition a historic one.
🙏 A Word of Thanks to Our Sponsors
The success of Nuo Clinic TPL 3.0 was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and partners. Nuo Clinic, as the Title Sponsor, gave the league its proud identity and championed the vision of hockey’s revival. Rela Hospital stood tall as our Platinum Partner, reinforcing its commitment to sports and community health. KRG Technologies, under Mr. K. Rajan, and Ayyaar Bawan, led by Mr. V. Ayyadurai, extended their strong backing. Monitoring Technologies (Mr. Sai Shekar) brought in valuable support, while Boost and ONGC powered the league with their iconic presence. We also proudly thank Ortho Trio, whose association highlighted the synergy between medicine, movement, and sport.
Together, these partners lit up TPL 3.0, proving that when industry, healthcare, and community unite, the result is a festival of hockey that inspires the next generation.
🎥 A Special Salute to i1Sports & Our Voices of Hockey 🎙️
No words are enough to thank i1Sports, whose tireless efforts brought TPL 3.0 into the homes and hearts of thousands of viewers across the country. Their cameras captured not just goals, but emotions, drama, and history in the making.
A heartfelt word of gratitude to our commentators, Ritish and Nandakumar, whose voices carried the pulse of Egmore. They didn’t just call the game — they painted it, every goal and every save made larger than life. Their passion and knowledge gave colour to the league and ensured that every viewer felt the roar of the crowd, even from afar.
For Hockey Tiruvallur, you were not just broadcasters, but partners in writing a new chapter for Tamil Nadu hockey. 💙
🙏 Special Acknowledgements
Hockey Tiruvallur extends heartfelt thanks to Thiru J. Meghanatha Reddy IAS, CEO – SDAT, for his guidance and support, and to Mr. Sekar Manohar, President – Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, for his encouragement in making this league a success. We gratefully acknowledge RSM Dr. M. Raja and Stadium Officer i/c Mrs. L. Nancy for ensuring smooth conduct at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, and Mr. Udayakumar of Chennai Hockey Association for his invaluable assistance.
Our appreciation also goes to Technical Director Mr. Mohammed Muneer, & Associate Technial Mr. Navneedhakrishnan for upholding the highest standards of officiating, and to Mr. Michael for his tireless efforts in handling AV systems and advertisement boards. A big thank you to the ball boys from Madrasa Azam & St. Paul’s School, whose energy and discipline kept the matches flowing seamlessly.
Together, their contributions added the professional edge that elevated Nuo Clinic TPL 3.0 into a true festival of hockey.
✨ Final Word
The Grand Finale of Nuo Clinic TPL 3.0 was a true paisa vasool spectacle — seven goals, video referrals, world-class umpiring, and a packed Egmore gallery.
Indian Bank emerged worthy champions, IOB bowed out as gallant fighters, and Tamil Nadu hockey rediscovered its heartbeat under the floodlights.
📢 The Future of TPL
As the lights dim on Nuo Clinic TPL 3.0, one thing is certain — this is only the beginning.
From this year onward, the Tiruvallur Premier League will be a standard fixture every August at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Egmore. The calendar is marked, the turf awaits, and the promise is clear: next year will be bigger, brighter, and better than ever before.
Will we see new heroes rise? Which club will script the next fairytale?
The countdown to TPL 4.0, August 2026, has already begun. 🔥🏑
— Hockey Tiruvallur | TPL
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