Sri Lanka Air Force emerged men’s champions while Sri Lanka Navy and Sithadevi Sports Club Kandy emerged joint women’s champions at the All Island Men’s and Women’s Seven-a-Side Hockey Tournament 2009, conducted by Matale Old Vijayans last weekend.

Sri Lanka Police were men’s runners-up.

In the Over-40 category, Park Sports Club Kandy emerged winners, while CH & FC Colombo were runners-up.

Joint champs in the Under-14 category were Zahira College Matale and Christ Church College Matale.

The All Island Men’s and Women’s Seven-a-Side Hockey Tournament has been organized and conducted by Matale Old Vijayans for the past 10 years.

The city of Matale is popularly referred to as the ‘Cradle of Hockey’ in Sri Lanka due to the tremendous popularity the game enjoys there, among the hockey loving public of the region.

In recent years, not only has it attracted some of the best Sri Lankan teams, but also several foreign hockey teams who vied for the challenge trophy from the Asian region.

Acknowledging the great popularity and vast potential of the game, Janashakthi Insurance Company stepped in, in 2006 and began sponsoring this annual tournament. It is today the only high ranking corporate entity in Sri Lanka which is engaged in the promotion of hockey in Sri Lanka.

Janashakthi’s Head of Marketing Paddy Weerasekera said, "we are happy to have partnered the Old Vijayans to host a very significant tournament in Sri Lanka’s hockey calendar. Janashakthi has been involved in a number of sports such as cricket, squash, athletics, sailing, rowing etc. We have always recognised the importance of developing holistic individuals who are not only academically and professionally qualified, but who also have an extra curricular drive, having played sports or been involved in the arts.

"Stemming from this, we have sponsored a number of rural athletes and helped them develop their skills. They have now become National level record holders. In fact, the Janashakthi family boasts of a number of prominent sportsmen, including Sri Lanka cricketer Suranga Lakmal." Vice President of the Old Vijayans, R. Jayaweera thanked Janashakthi for coming forward for the 4th consecutive time to support and promote sports which have immense potential but are yet not adequately funded to be able to hold tournaments. "Thanks to this invaluable support, hockey has undergone a renaissance in Matale and has been restored to its former glory."