Historic milestone as hostel maintains two-and-a-half-decade supremacy in Under-19 Hockey Championships
Munish Sood
MANDI:
In a moment of immense pride for Himachal Pradesh, the Hockey Boys Sports Hostel-Sundernagar created history by winning the Under-19 State School Hockey Championship for the 26th consecutive time.
The tournament, held at Government Senior Secondary School-Una, from October 27 to 29, 2025, witnessed a dominant performance by the Sundernagar team, reaffirming its unmatched legacy in state-level hockey.
As the victorious team returned to their hostel, they were greeted with an enthusiastic and grand welcome by the school administration, faculty, students and parents. The premises echoed with cheers, garlands and celebratory slogans in honour of the young champions who once again brought glory to Sundernagar and the entire Mandi district.
Legacy of excellence and discipline
The welcome ceremony was led by Principal Lekh Ram Bhardwaj and Hostel in-charge & coach Sanjay Kumar Yadav, a recipient of both the Parshuram Award and the State Teacher Award. They congratulated the players for their unwavering dedication and discipline. Retired coach Sunil Kumar was also felicitated by Yadav, Vice-Principal Biri Singh and other staff members for his invaluable contributions to the hostel’s success over the years.
Yadav, who took charge of the hostel in April 2025, has been instrumental in improving player performance by emphasising balanced nutrition, hygiene, discipline and sports culture. Himself a renowned wrestler, Yadav introduced a scientifically designed diet plan and training regimen, which has led to remarkable improvement in the fitness and performance levels of the players.
Shining on national stage
The hockey hostel’s success extends beyond state boundaries. Its players have represented Himachal Pradesh at multiple national-level tournaments, bringing laurels to the region.
• In School National Games (U-19), players Jatin, Vinay, Karan, Anuj and Sujal showcased exceptional skills in 2024–25.
• In School National Games (U-17), Jatin, Nitin, Anuj, Suryansh, Vinay Kumar, and Karan earned accolades for their impressive performances.
During 2025, hostel players also participated in prestigious competitions such as the Junior National Hockey Championship (Jatin, Vinay, Anuj Kumar), Sub-Junior Nationals in Chandigarh and Chennai, Senior Nationals in Jhansi and Junior Nationals in Jalandhar, consistently performing at high levels.
Adding another feather to their cap, the hostel team also emerged winners of the Nalwar Mela Hockey Tournament 2025, held in Sundernagar, earning a cash prize of Rs 15,000.
Principal Bhardwaj commended the players and staff, saying that “this achievement is a reflection of years of discipline, dedication, and passion that define the spirit of Sundernagar Hockey Hostel.”
The Hockey Sports Hostel, Sundernagar, continues to be a shining example of sports excellence, discipline and commitment, producing players who are not only making Himachal Pradesh proud but also leaving their mark on the national stage.
