The Mercantile Hockey Association will be conducting it’s 42nd edition of the Annual Men’s 7-a-side Hockey Championship this Sunday, 21st October, at the P. Saravanamuthu Grounds.
Also Read: Final results of the Hockey National Sports Festival 2018
The time honoured event will be played in 6 separate divisions with the cream of industrial talent all coming together to play for the ultimate championship title. With Peoples Leasing PLC, MAS Holdings, DHL and Hilton Colombo gracing the event as joint sponsors, this year’s event is to be held in grand form.
The ‘A’ division, Dennis De Rosayro Trophy, donated by Janashakthi Insurance PLC will be contested for between the 4 big names of the Mercantile ‘A’ division pool – Commercial Bank of Ceylon, HNB Group PLC, MAS Holdings and Sampath Bank.
HNB Group PLC and Commercial Bank of Ceylon were awarded joint champions at the 2017 event and will look at owning the title all for themselves this year around. MAS Holdings have been awarded a leg up this year, moving up to the ‘A’ division pool, after being crowned champions last year.
Commercial Bank ‘B’, Nations Trust Bank, Singer Sri Lanka and Brown & Company will contest in the ‘B’ division, playing for the Singer Trophy.
Also Read: Check out how HNB and Commercial Bank conquered ‘A’ Division
The ‘C’ division Lifebuoy Trophy will be fought for between HSBC, Seylan Bank PLC, John Keells Holdings and defending champions, Hayleys PLC. Just as MAS Holdings, John Keells Holdings have been moved up to ‘C’ division after winning the ‘D’ division group in 2017.
Attracting the most number of teams in this year’s tournament, the Edmund J. Cooray Trophy will be in contention for the ‘D’ division champions. HNB Group PLC ‘B’, Orient Finance Limited, David Peiris Motor Company Limited, Aitken Spence and MJF Teas Pvt. Ltd are grouped in this division.
In the ‘E’ division group, WSO2, Sampath Bank PLC ‘C’, Ceylon Tobacco and Richard Peiris Group will play for the Ceylon Cold Stores Trophy this Sunday. 2017 winners, MJF Teas Pvt. Ltd has been promoted to ‘D’ division for this year’s event.
Finally, in the ‘F’ division, there will be a straight final with MAS Holdings ‘B’ and Sampath Bank PLC ‘B’ taking center stage, playing for the Mercantile H. A. President’s Trophy.
Also Read: How HNB edged past Commercial Bank in the League
HNB Group PLC and Commercial Bank of Ceylon have had an impressive stint this year in the League and Knockout tournaments, and the winners of both will be awarded at the 7-a-side awards ceremony on Sunday.
The Mercantile Hockey Association will be awarding the challenge trophies along with 16 replicas to the winning team members from ‘A’ to ‘F’ divisions. They will also present handsome cash prizes to the winners apart from the replicas.
ThePapare.com will bring you exclusive photographs and results at the end of the 42nd Annual 7-a-side Hockey Championship 2018; So, stay logged to stay updated!
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