Chennai, Oct 21: The 97th edition of the All India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament will be held from October 22 to November 1, 2026. A team from Malaysia will participate in this year’s edition, marking its second consecutive appearance in the tournament.
10 teams, pooled across two Groups, will compete for glory this year. The prize money for the top two teams is ₹7 lakh for the winning team and ₹5 lakh for the runner-up.
There will also be a cash prize of ₹50,000 for each semi-finalist team. In addition, a cash prize of ₹10,000 and a high-end bicycle will be awarded to each of the following: the Best Forward, Best Midfielder, Best Goalkeeper, Most Promising Player of the Tournament, and Man of the Match in the final. Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Egmore, Chennai, will continue to serve as the venue for the tournament.
Furthermore, TI Cycles of India will present two special awards — ‘Hercules Most Stylish Player of the Tournament’ and ‘Hercules High-Performance Player of the Tournament’. The winners will each receive a high-performance bicycle.
E.I.D.-Parry (India) Limited will also present two special awards — ‘Parry’s Jaggery Powder Fastest Player of the Tournament’ and ‘Parry's Millets Outstanding Endurance award’. The winners will each receive a cash prize of ₹10,000.
Mr Arun Murugappan (also known as Mr M A M Arunachalam), Executive Chairman, Tube Investments of India said,
"The 97th edition of the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament reflects the enduring legacy of a competition that has been an integral part of Indian hockey for decades. The participation of a team from Malaysia for the second consecutive year adds an international dimension to the tournament, further strengthening its reach and appeal. At the grassroots level, we are equally committed to nurturing young talent supported by the Tamil Nadu government’s sustained efforts to promote sports. The introduction of a girls’ category in the MCC-Murugappa Tamil Nadu U-17 Schools Hockey Tournament this year marked a vital stride towards championing diversity and ensuring equal competitive platforms for aspiring athletes.
We are continuing the tree-planting initiative introduced last year, under which 10 trees were planted for every goal scored during the tournament, resulting in 2,290 trees being planted in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. This year, we are doubling our commitment, with 20 trees to be planted for every goal scored. The initiative reflects our continued commitment to bringing together sporting excellence and environmental responsibility.
At the Murugappa Group, we believe that sport plays a vital role in building character, fostering inclusion and inspiring future generations. Through our continued support for hockey at both competitive and school levels, we remain committed to encouraging emerging talent and contributing to the growth of the sport."
Mr R Karthik, President of MCC, said,
“The Madras Cricket Club is delighted to host the 97th edition of the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament, an event that reflects our motto, “Sports - A Way of Life”. The Club remains committed to supporting sport, organising quality competitions and creating opportunities to nurture sporting talent. Hockey occupies a proud place in India’s sporting tradition, and we are privileged to continue our association with this historic tournament.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Murugappa Group, the sole sponsor of the tournament, for its continued support and commitment to the game. I wish all participating teams an enjoyable and highly competitive tournament.”
The Schools Tournament
The MCC-Murugappa Tamil Nadu U-17 Schools Hockey Tournament 2026, that took place between October 14 – 17, 2026, marked a significant milestone this year with the introduction of a girls’ category for the first time. Indira Gandhi Memorial Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Madurai secured a hat-trick win at the 4th MCC-Murugappa Tamil Nadu U-17 Boys Schools Hockey Tournament 2026 beating St. Paul's Higher Secondary School, Chennai, with a score of 7 - 4 in the final match on Saturday, October 17th, 2026. In the inaugural edition of the 1st MCC-Murugappa Tamil Nadu U-17 Girls’ Schools Hockey Tournament 2026, Kshatriya Girls Higher Secondary School, Virudhunagar emerged victorious beating St. Joseph's Girls School Higher Secondary School, Pudukottai with a score of 6 – 0.
The Boys’ competition comprised eight schools with four teams from Chennai and four from other districts in Tamil Nadu - Madurai, Hosur, Karnambut and Tirunelveli. The U-17 Girls’ category featured four teams from Karnambut, Virudhunagar, Pudukkottai and Erode.
Details of the tournament were announced at a press conference held today by the Madras Cricket Club (MCC) and the Murugappa Group. Mr R Karthik, President of MCC and Mr. Niranjan Mudaliar, Honorary Secretary of MCC welcomed the gathering. Mr S L Rajiv Reddy, Organising Secretary of the Hockey Tournament briefed the press and proposed the vote of thanks. Mr Arun Murugappan, Executive Chairman, Tube Investments of India Limited, represented the Murugappa Group.
Plant a Goal – A sustainability initiative by the Murugappa Group
As part of this year’s MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament, a special sustainability initiative successfully introduced last year will continue to drive our green commitment. Under ‘Plant a Goal’, this year, 20 plant saplings will be planted for every goal scored during the tournament. This initiative symbolises the Group’s commitment to environmental responsibility, linking the excitement of the game with a lasting ecological impact. The trees will be planted at Tharuvaikulam village in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, with the support of local communities.
Across the four-day boys' and girls' tournaments, an impressive 205 goals were scored, resulting in the planting of 4,100 saplings at Tharuvaikulam village, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The initiative reflects the belief that every goal can contribute to both sporting excellence and a greener future.
Tribute to the Legacy of the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup
A video on the tournament was released at the press conference, detailing the legacy and the impact of the cup. The video https://youtu.be/4RGq0VgtsI8?si=TKWrLYr5pKt3av3eis up on the Murugappa Group’s YouTube channel.
AI and Data-Driven Insights
Bringing a fresh and immersive perspective to the viewing experience, this year’s broadcast will feature a dedicated AI and data-driven segment. Offering viewers a deeper dive into the action, the coverage will highlight compelling match statistics, standout top performers, evolving players’ trends, and key tournament milestones.
The traditional inaugural match of the MCC–Murugappa Hockey tournament will be played between MCC and Coorg Hockey Team, on 21st October 2026, at 6.00 p.m. under floodlights.
Mr Shivlochak Deep will officiate as the Technical Delegate for this year’s tournament and will be assisted by a team of outstation and local officials.
The winners of the 2025 edition, the Indian Railways Hockey team- who had secured a hat-trick win, will be defending their title. The tournament will be played on a league-cum-knockout basis. The top 2 teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals to be played on October 31, 2026. The finals will be played on November 1, 2026, under floodlights. One match will be played under floodlights on all days. The league fixtures are enclosed herewith. The press will be provided with broadband facility at the venue to facilitate sending reports after the last match.
