Western Railway and Central Railway Crowned Elite Champions in Prestigious Multi-Division Event
MUMBAI, June 10: The 15th Joe Fernandis Memorial Hockey Tournament concluded in thrilling fashion at the St. Stanislaus High School Astroturf Ground in Bandra, with railway teams once again demonstrating their dominance in Indian institutional hockey.
Organized by the Ambernath Hockey Welfare Association (AHWA), the annual tournament brought together more than 400 players competing across seven divisions, providing a showcase for elite performers, grassroots talent, veterans and emerging stars.
The tournament, held under the guidance of former Indian Olympian Mervyn Fernandis, honours the memory of his late father Joe Fernandis, a respected grassroots coach and hockey promoter whose contributions helped shape the sport in the Mumbai region.
Western Railway Clinch Elite Men’s Crown
The Elite Men’s final produced one of the most dramatic contests of the tournament as Western Railway edged Mumbai Port Authority 6-5 in a tense tie-breaker shootout after a closely fought encounter.
Western Railway reached the championship match after defeating Central Railway 2-0 in the semi-finals, while Mumbai Port Authority booked their place in the final with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Mumbai Customs.
The final lived up to expectations, with both teams displaying high-quality hockey before Western Railway ultimately emerged victorious in the shootout.
Central Railway Dominate Elite Women’s Division
In the Elite Women’s category, Central Railway delivered a commanding performance to capture the title with a convincing 3-0 victory over Union Bank of India.
The railway side entered the final in impressive form after demolishing Republicans SC 6-0 in the semi-finals. Indian Olympian Vandana Katariya starred in that encounter with a brilliant two-goal performance, while Khushi Katariya, Anita S., Shashi Prabha and H. Lalrautfeli also found the scoresheet.
Union Bank of India secured their place in the final following a narrow victory over Western Railway, setting up a highly anticipated title clash ultimately won by Central Railway.
Sea View SC Triumph in Senior Women’s Category
The Senior Women’s competition saw Sea View SC emerge as champions after defeating Warriors SC 2-0 in the final.
Throughout the tournament, Sea View SC displayed consistency and defensive discipline, culminating in a deserved championship victory.
Greater Mumbai Police Rule Super Division
Greater Mumbai Police reinforced their reputation as one of Mumbai’s strongest hockey outfits by claiming the Super Division title.
The police team defeated CTC Mumbai in the final after an impressive tournament campaign highlighted by a dominant 6-0 semi-final victory over Arctic Super Boys.
Earlier in the competition, Greater Mumbai Police registered one of the biggest wins of the tournament, crushing Hockey Navi Mumbai ‘B’ 10-0, with Nitin Patil scoring four goals in a memorable performance.
Hockey Mira Road Lift Veterans’ Trophy
The Veterans’ Division featured several former stars of Mumbai hockey, with Hockey Mira Road emerging champions after defeating Mumbai Customs 1-0 in the final.
Mumbai Customs had reached the championship match following a spectacular 7-0 semi-final victory over Savio Sports Club, powered by four goals from veteran striker Jayesh Jadhav.
Don Bosco SC Win Under-16 Title
The Boys’ Under-16 category produced one of the most exciting finals of the tournament.
Don Bosco SC edged Republicans SC 3-2 through a dramatic tie-breaker shootout to secure the youth championship title.
The closely contested match highlighted the quality of emerging talent coming through Mumbai’s hockey development system and underlined the importance of grassroots competitions in nurturing future stars.
More Than Just a Tournament
Over the years, the Joe Fernandis Memorial Hockey Tournament has evolved into one of Mumbai’s most respected hockey events.
The competition serves as a bridge between generations, bringing together elite institutional teams, community clubs, veterans and young players under one umbrella.
Named after the late Joe Fernandis—fondly remembered as “Uncle Joe” within hockey circles—the tournament continues the vision of a man who dedicated his life to developing the sport at the grassroots level.
A former Bombay State hockey player during the 1950s, Joe Fernandis played a pivotal role in promoting hockey across suburban Mumbai and Ambernath. Following his passing in 2014, his son Mervyn Fernandis, a member of India’s gold medal-winning team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, has continued to champion the tournament and its objectives.
2026 Champions and Runners-Up
Elite Men
Champions: Western Railway
Runners-Up: Mumbai Port Authority
Elite Women
Champions: Central Railway
Runners-Up: Union Bank of India
Senior Women
Champions: Sea View SC
Runners-Up: Warriors SC
Boys’ Under-16
Champions: Don Bosco SC
Runners-Up: Republicans SC
Veterans Men
Champions: Hockey Mira Road
Runners-Up: Mumbai Customs
Super Division
Champions: Greater Mumbai Police
Runners-Up: CTC Mumbai
As the curtains came down on another successful edition, the tournament once again reaffirmed its status as a vital platform for Indian hockey, celebrating excellence on the field while preserving the enduring legacy of one of Mumbai’s most respected hockey families.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjFBNfzD5ws
Comments