The 18th edition of the Blue and Gold Hockey Sevens, organised by Royal College, Colombo, in collaboration with the Royal College Hockey Club (RCHC), will take place on 12 and 13 August from 8 a.m. onwards at the Royal College main grounds at Reid Avenue.

The tournament is to be held for the first time since 2019 as the Covid-19 pandemic followed by the economic crisis prevented the organisers from holding the annual event in the last three years. 

This fascinating all-island hockey tournament is a much-anticipated hockey extravaganza featuring the participation of both boys’ and girls’ schools across the island. 

Over a quarter century old RCHC has arranged top-notch facilities, including accommodation for outstation teams, meals, and beverages with the help of sponsors despite the current economic crisis.

 The tournament provides young and energetic players from diverse backgrounds with the unique opportunity and exposure to display their skills and talents in an arena that has not only caught the limelight in the hockey fraternity of the nation but is also an eye-catching attraction on the schools’ sports calendar in Sri Lanka. 

The intense competition, thrill, excitement, sportsmanship, interaction, and camaraderie along with the carnival-like atmosphere that prevails during the two days of the tournament brings about a memorable experience to everyone who participates, attends, and witnesses the tournament.

One of the most prestigious events in the school hockey calendars this time will see a record-high number of 66 schools participating in both boys’ and girls’ categories with a promise of a dazzling showcase of talent, innovation, and sheer sporting brilliance.

This year’s Blue and Gold Hockey 7s tournament will see cutting-edge innovative technology throughout the tournament, including the digitisation of the team registration process. 

The first edition of the Blue and Gold Hockey 7’s took place in 1992 with the participation of only 16 boys’ schools. Despite the success of the tournament, the continuation was constrained due to funding limitations. 

However, after a lapse of ten years, the tournament was recommenced in 2002 and brought to action on a very grand scale with the tremendous commitment of the office bearers of the Royal College Hockey Club. 

Since its recommencement, the tournament has witnessed outstanding progress and has become a trendsetter in improving, developing, and evolving the game of hockey in Sri Lanka. 

A special mention must be made of Singer Sri Lanka and other sponsors for playing a major role in the consecutive success of this tournament.

Dharmaraja College emerged victorious in the boys’ category under the Cup Championship when the tournament was held last time in 2019, while Seethadevi Balika clinched the Cup Championship in the girls’ category. 

Top-notch school hockey teams Alocious College, Galle; Kingswood College, Kandy; Zahira College, Matale’ S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and Matale; and Ananda College, Colombo along with the hosts Royal will be in the forefront to win the title for this year in the boys’ category, while eight-time champions Seethadevi, Kandy and Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte are expected to give their best in the girls’ category. 

But with most schools outside Colombo, Matale, and Kandy playing an improved version of the game now, nobody can be ruled out of winning the prestigious title.

Hosts Royal College, Colombo lead the tally in the boys’ category with three championships under their belt, followed by Nalanda College, Vijaya College-Matale, and Joseph Vaz College, who have won the tournament twice each, while Zahira College, Matale, Wesley College, Vidyartha College, Kandy, St. Thomas’ College Matale, Kingswood College, Trinity College, and Ananda College have won the tournament on a solitary occasion each.

In the girls’ category, Seethadevi College is leading the tally with a record of eight championships and second on the tally is Pushapadana College with four championships while Musaeus College; Vijaya College, Matale; St. Anthony’s Girls’ College, Kandy; and Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Nawala have won the tournament one time each.

The tournament is carried out with a Cup championship, Plate championship and Bowl championship with all teams initially going through a preliminary group stage of matches followed by a series of knockout games which leads the two most deserving teams to battle it out for the Cup championship in the grand finale.