On a night made for heroes, Tom Boon delivered one of the finest individual performances of the Hero Hockey India League 2026, scoring a hat-trick to propel Ranchi Royals into the final with a thrilling 3–2 victory over Hyderabad Toofans at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium.
Fittingly, it came on the Belgian striker’s birthday a moment that turned into a personal and sporting celebration as the Royals booked their showdown with league toppers Vedanta Kalinga Lancers.
The contest had everything a knockout match should early drama, tactical battles, nerves in the closing stages and a decisive display of penalty-corner mastery. Hyderabad Toofans may have drawn first blood and dominated phases of the contest, but Ranchi’s efficiency in front of goal, spearheaded by Boon, proved to be the difference.
Hyderabad started with ferocity and purpose. In just the fifth minute, they stunned the Royals with a beautifully crafted opening goal. India’s rising midfield talent Rajinder Singh produced a moment of individual brilliance down the right flank, gliding past three defenders before threading a perfect ball into the circle. Jacob Anderson was waiting at the far post, and his deft deflection gave Toofans a deserved 1–0 lead.
Moments earlier, Manpreet Singh had tested the Royals’ defence with a thunderous strike from outside the D that narrowly missed a finishing touch from Manmeet Singh. The early exchanges suggested Hyderabad were in control, dictating the tempo and forcing Ranchi to absorb pressure.
However, knockout hockey is often decided by small lapses, and Toofans paid dearly for two costly errors. They conceded back-to-back penalty corners in the opening quarter, and with Tom Boon standing over the ball, Ranchi needed no second invitation. In the 13th minute, veteran Manpreet Singh delivered a crisp injection, which Boon met with a powerful drag-flick that rocketed past the goalkeeper. Barely two minutes later, the same combination struck again. Another clean injection, another thunderous flick and suddenly Ranchi had turned a deficit into a 2–1 lead. In the space of three minutes, the complexion of the match had completely changed.
The second quarter became a tactical arm-wrestle. Both sides created half-chances, with Hyderabad trying to regain momentum and Ranchi looking to stretch their advantage. The intensity was high, tackles flew in, and space became harder to find, but neither side could add to the scoreline before the half-time hooter.
Ranchi emerged from the break with renewed intent, knowing that one more goal could tilt the tie decisively in their favour. That moment arrived in the 34th minute, once again through the unstoppable Tom Boon. Yet another penalty corner, another perfect injection from Manpreet Singh, and another ruthless finish from Boon’s stick. His drag-flick screamed into the net, completing a hat-trick and pushing the Royals 3–1 ahead.
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It was a masterclass in penalty-corner execution timing, technique and composure under pressure all rolled into one. For Hyderabad, it was a bitter reminder of how expensive lapses in discipline can be in knockout hockey.
To their credit, the Toofans refused to surrender. Four minutes later, Junior World Cup bronze medallist Amandeep Lakra provided them with a lifeline. Earning a penalty corner of their own, Hyderabad executed it perfectly, with Lakra unleashing a powerful strike that beat the Royals’ goalkeeper to make it 3–2.
With more than a quarter of the game still to play, the match was wide open. The final quarter was played at breakneck speed. Hyderabad threw everything forward, winning a series of penalty corners and forcing Ranchi into a defensive shell. Every clearance, every interception and every tackle carried enormous weight as the Toofans searched desperately for an equaliser.
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Ranchi, however, showed the defensive steel that had carried them this far in the tournament. Their backline held its shape, closed down angles and refused to allow Hyderabad’s forwards the clean looks they craved. Goalkeeper and defenders combined superbly to defuse the late pressure, while the Royals’ midfield worked tirelessly to slow the tempo whenever possible.
As the final seconds ticked away, Hyderabad made one last push, but Ranchi’s composure held firm. When the final whistle sounded, it was the Royals who erupted in celebration a 3–2 victory that had been earned through ruthless execution and mental toughness. For Tom Boon, it was a night to remember. A birthday hat-trick in a do-or-die qualifier is the stuff of sporting folklore, and his three goals ensured that Ranchi Royals will now have a shot at lifting the Hero HIL 2026 title.
They will face Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in what promises to be a mouth-watering final, pitting the league’s most clinical finishers against its most consistent side. After the drama of Qualifier 2, one thing is certain if the final is even half as thrilling, fans at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium are in for another unforgettable night.
