Royal and Seethadevi hockey champions

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

Royal College and Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy won the Boys and Girls titles at the National Schools Hockey tournament which was organised by the Ministry of Education. The championship took place in Bernard Aluvihare grounds Matale and Nandimitra Ekanayake International Stadium, recently.

Royal stickers beat S. Thomas College, Matale in the final by 1 goal to nil when Zahira National School, Matale scored a 2 goals to nil win against S. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia to clinch the third place.

In the girls finals Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy beat their neighbour's Pushpadana Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy by 1 goal to nil in a penalty shoot out as there was no scoring during normal playing time. Visakha Vidyalaya beat Yasodara Vidyalaya by 3 goals to nil to take the girls third place.

A total of thirty three boys teams and twenty four girls teams took part at this National championship.