Vijaya Open Hockey 7s next weekend in Matale
The 16th Vijaya Open All-Island Inter Club Hockey Sevens 2015 for men conducted by Matale Old Vijayans Sports Club will get underway at Matale next weekend. Bernard Aluvihara Stadium and Edward Park hockey ground are the two venues for this much looked forward hockey fiesta in the hill country played for the old Vijayans Challenge Trophy.
The two-day tournament, to be held on September 19 and 20, is open to all clubs affiliated to Sri Lanka Hockey Federation. The matches will be played on a league cum knockout format and the semi-finals and final will be worked off at Edward Park on Sunday, September 20.
The winner is entitled to the Old Vijayans Challenge Trophy plus a cash award of Rs. 50,000 while the runner-up will take away a challenge trophy and a cash award of Rs. 25,000.
This year’s tournament will see the participating of 16 leading hockey playing clubs across the island namely Army, Navy, Air Force and Police, CH&FC, Old Joes SC, Matale SC, Vijaya SC, Zahira SC, Park SC, Gampaha SC, Negombo SC, Kalutara SC, Old Thomians SC, Kelaniya SC and Wennappuwa SC. Last year Air Force grabbed the title by defeating Army SC 1-0 in the final.
Air Force SC leads the series by winning the title on seven occasions.