Matale Vijaya Sports Club, together with the past pupils association of Vijaya National College, Matale, comes out to deliver another fascinating edition (22nd in the series) of the “Vijayans’ Trophy” All-Island Open Inter-club Hockey Sevens Tournament 2023 at the Edward Park hockey ground in Matale on 14 and 15 October.

The tournament will commence at 7.30 a.m. on both days. Vijaya Hockey 7s is a much-awaited and much-talked-about two-day hockey fiesta in the hill country, which has won the hearts of many club hockey players who have taken part in the previous 21 editions since its inception in 1999. 

The tournament will have two main categories for men and women and a special category for boys’ under-14 teams representing eight schools in the Malale District.

According to Maj. B.G.R Fernando, head of the organising committee, 26 men’s and 10 women’s club teams, including Army, Navy, Air Force, and Police have already confirmed their participation. 

The men’s championship will be played for the cup, plate, and bowl champions. In addition to the coveted “Vijayans’ Challenge Trophy” for the men’s and women’s champions, the winners and runners-up of both segments are entitled to receive attractive cash awards. The men’s cup champions will receive Rs. 100,000 and the women’s champions Rs. 50,000; the men’s runner-up will receive Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 25,000 to the women’s runner-up team. The men’s plate champions will receive a trophy plus Rs. 15,000, while the men’s bowl winners will receive a trophy with a cash prize of Rs. 10,000. 

Trophies, medals, and certificates are on offer for the boys’ under-14 champion and runner-up teams. The under-14 boys’ teams in the fray are Vijaya College, Christ Church College, St. Thomas’ College, Zahira College, Hindu College, Sirimavo Bandaranaike MV, Wijayapala MV, Harasgama, and Elwala MV, Matale

Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony which is scheduled to be held on Saturday (14) at 7.30 a.m.