The 18th edition of the Blue and Gold Hockey Sevens organized by Royal College, Colombo in collaboration with the Royal College Hockey Club (RCHC) will take place on August 12 and 13 from 8.00am onwards at the Royal College main ground at Reid Avenue.
The tournament is held for the first time since 2019 as the Covid pandemic followed by the economic crisis prevented the organizers from having the annual event in the last three years.
This fascinating all island hockey tournament is a much-anticipated hockey extravaganza featuring the participation of both boys’ and girls’ schools across the island.
Over a quarter century old RCHC has arranged top-notch facilities including accommodation for outstation teams, meals and beverages with the help of sponsors despite the current economic crisis.
The tournament provides the young and energetic players coming from diverse backgrounds with the unique opportunity and exposure of displaying their skills and talents in an arena that has not only caught the limelight in the hockey fraternity of the nation but is also an eye-catching attraction on the schools’ sports calendar in Sri Lanka.
The intense competition, thrill, excitement, sportsmanship, interaction, and camaraderie along with the carnival atmosphere that prevails during the two days of the tournament is expected to bring about a memorable experience to everyone who participates, attends and witnesses the tournament.
The most prestigious event in the school hockey calendars this time will see a record high number of 66 schools participating in both boys’ and girls’ categories with a promise of dazzling showcase of talent, innovation and sheer sporting brilliance according to the organizers.
This year’s Blue and Gold Hockey 7s tournament will see cutting-edge innovative technology in the whole tournament including digitization of the team registration process.
The first edition took place in 1992 with the participation of only 16 boys’ schools.
Despite the success of the tournament, the continuation was constrained due to funding limitations.
However after a lapse of ten years the tournament recommenced in 2002 with tremendous commitment of the office bearers of the Royal College Hockey Club.
Since its recommencement, the tournament has witnessed outstanding progress and has become a trendsetter in improving, developing and evolving hockey in Sri Lanka.
Singer Sri Lanka and other sponsors played a major role towards the consecutive success of this tournament.
Dharmaraja College emerged victorious in the boys’ category under the Cup Championship when the tournament was held last in 2019 while Seethadevi Balika clinched the Cup Championship in the girls’ category.
St. Aloysius College Galle, Kingswood College, Kandy, Zahira College Matale, St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and Matale, Ananda College along with the hosts Royal will be in the fore front to win the title while eight-time champions Seethadevi Kandy and Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte are expected to give their best in the girls’ category.
The hosts Royal lead the tally in the boys’ category with three championships under their belt, followed by Nalanda, Vijaya College-Matale and Joseph Vaz who have won the tournament twice each while Zahira Matale, Wesley, Vidyartha, St. Thomas’ Matale, Kingswood, Trinity and Ananda have won the tournament on a solitary occasion each.
In the girls’ category, Seethadevi are leading the tally with a record of eight championships and second is Pushapadana with four championships while Musaeus, Vijaya Matale, St. Anthony’s Girls Kandy and Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya Nawala have won the tournament once each.
(AO)