Beighton Cup

What links here Related changes Page information
Created by Alihaiderhussain
Last edited November 28, 2025


Template:Infobox sports league The Beighton Cup (also known as the Coal India Beighton Cup for sponsorship reasons[1]) is a field hockey tournament organized by Hockey Bengal (formerly the Bengal Hockey Association).[2][3] Instituted in 1895, it is one of the oldest field hockey tournaments in the world and is held every year in Kolkata.[4][5][6][7]

History

Aristocratic 19th century origins

Instituted in 1895, the tournament's origins are steeped in both the era of British colonialism and the English aristocracy. The tournament was named after its British donor, Judge Thomas Durant Beighton of the Indian Civil Service and Legal Remembrancer to the Government of Bengal. Born in 1846,[8] Beighton died in Gibraltar of heart failure in February 1906.[9][10][11][12]

Beighton had married for a second time in 1897 and in 1898 had a son, Thomas Percival Durant Beighton (aka T.P.D. Beighton, died 1971), who was, like his father, a keen sportsman, particularly at both Winchester College and Christ Church, Oxford University.[13][14] He later published his accounts as a motoring enthusiast; a sport, like cricket, that he enjoyed with his brother-in-law, John Alfred Middleton, MC, whose wedding to T.P.D. Beighton's sister, Dorothea, in London at St Peter's Church, Eaton Square had featured on the front page of the Daily Mirror on 5 January 1922.[15][16][17][18] T.P.D. Beighton and Middleton had been boarders together at Winchester and then enlisted during WWI following which they both entered Christ Church, Oxford as freshmen in 1919.[19][20][21] T.P.D. Beighton's wife, Kathleen Muriel Beighton (née Hood), was the daughter of sports benefactor Sir Joseph Hood, 1st Baronet.[22][23]

Recent decades

Today, the Beighton Cup hockey tournament is organised by Hockey Bengal, previously called the Bengal Hockey Association and used to be held on natural grass at the Mohun Bagan ground on the Maidan in Kolkata (earlier called Calcutta) in India. For last few years, it has been held on Astro Turf (artificial grass) at Sports Authority of India (SAI East) in Kolkata.[24] The Beighton Cup was initially organized by the Indian Football Association, until the Bengal Hockey Association took over in 1905.[25]

In the 1940s and 1950s, Bengal had strong teams in Kolkata such as Customs and Port Commissioners, and Bengal-Nagpur Railway in Kharagpur. It went on to win the 1952 national hockey championship held in Kolkata, defeating Punjab.[26]

Dhyan Chand remembers

In his autobiography Goal!, the legendary Dhyan Chand remembers his Beighton Cup debut. He says, "In my opinion it is perhaps the best organised hockey event in the country. Kolkata is indeed lucky that it has at least three or four first class hockey grounds on the maidan, and this is a great advantage to run a tournament on schedule. Instituted in 1895, this tournament has had a non-stop run. World Wars I and II did not affect the tournament. Threats of Japanese bombs and actual bombings in Kolkata while the hockey season was on also did not prevent the tournament from being held. That being said, it is sad to think that the tournament had to yield to the communal frenzy which gripped the nation in 1946–47."[27]

Hockey in Kolkata

Apart from the Beighton Cup, Kolkata had many firsts in hockey to its credit. The first hockey association in India was formed in 1908 — the Bengal Hockey Association. The first national hockey championship of India was held in 1928. It was called the inter-provincials, with 5 provinces of undivided India participating. The first Indian Olympic team for the Amsterdam Games was selected in Kolkata after the 1928 nationals.[28]

Twenty-seven Olympic gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal ~ that is what Bengal's hockey can boast of. However, all that is history and Kolkata no longer has a hockey Olympian.[29] Despite its pioneering role in the history of Indian hockey, Kolkata is the only major metropolis in India without an artificial turf.[28] "How can you hope to produce international class players if you cannot give the players astroturf to play on?" asks Gurbux Singh, secretary of the Bengal Hockey Association.[29] Leslie Claudius agreed that the absence of astroturf is responsible for this decline, but added: "Ours was a different era. We were successful, so the enthusiasm for the game was naturally high. How can you have that today? Even the educational institutions are not interested in hockey nowadays. But you can't blame them. Young people don't find hockey exciting enough. Maybe if we can give them astroturf, the fast surface can lure them back into the game."[29]

Big names

Leslie Claudius was the biggest name in Kolkata hockey; he played for Customs in Kolkata, and won 4 Olympic medals from 1948 to 1960 (3 gold, 1 silver).[25]

Results

The results of the Beighton Cup:[30]

Year Winner Runner-up
1895 Calcutta Naval Volunteers AC
1896 Calcutta Naval Volunteers AC
1897 SPG Mission, Ranchi
1898 SPG Mission, Ranchi
1899 Calcutta Rangers Club
1900 St. James School
1901 1st Royal Irish Rifles
1902 SPG Mission, Ranchi
1903 SPG Mission, Ranchi
1904 Hornets AC
1905 BE College, Sibpore
1906 SPG Mission, Ranchi
1907 SPG Mission, Ranchi
1908 Calcutta Customs
1909 Calcutta Customs
1910 Calcutta Customs
1911 Calcutta Rangers Club
1912 Calcutta Customs
1913 Calcutta Rangers Club
1914 MAO College, Aligarh AFC, Jamalpur
1915 Calcutta Rangers Club Calcutta Customs
1916 BY Association, Lucknow Calcutta Customs
1917 Calcutta Rangers Club Bactetors Union (Dakha)
1918 BY Association, Lucknow East Indian Railway Asansol Rec. Club
1919 Xaverians' Club Calcutta FC
1920 East Indian Railway Asansol Rec. Club AFC, Jamalpur
1921 BE College, Sibpore Calcutta Rangers Club
1922 EBR Sports Club Calcutta Customs
1923 BY Association, Lucknow Calcutta Customs
1924 Calcutta FC AFC, Jamalpur
1925 Calcutta Customs Xaverians' Club
1926 Calcutta Customs Punjab HA
1927 Xaverians' Club Calcutta Customs
1928 Telegraph Rec. Club Calcutta Customs
1929 EIR Sports Club Calcutta Customs
1930 Calcutta Customs Port Commissioners
1931 Calcutta Customs BN Railway
1932 Calcutta Customs BN Railway
1933 Jhansi Heroes Calcutta Customs
1934 Calcutta Rangers Club EI Railway
1935 Calcutta Customs BN Railway
1936 Bombay Customs Calcutta Customs
1937 BN Railway Bhopal Wanderers
1938 Calcutta Customs BN Railway
1939 BN Railway Calcutta Customs
1940 Bhopal Wanderers Bhagawant Club, Tikamgarh
1941 Bhopal Wanderers and Bhagawant Club, Tikamgarh were declared joint winners
1942 Calcutta Rangers Club BN Railway
1943 BN Railway Calcutta Rangers Club
1944 BN Railway Jiwaji Club, Gwalior
1945 BN Railway Mohammedan Sporting Club
1946 Port Commissioners BN Railway
1947 Tournament not held
1948 Port Commissioners and U.P. Selected XI were declared joint winners
1949 Tata Sports Club, Bombay Punjab Sports Club
1950 Tata Sports Club, Bombay Lusitanians, Bombay
1951 Hindustan Aircraft, Bangalore Bata Sports
1952[31] Mohun Bagan Hindustan Aircraft, Bangalore
1953 Tata Sports Club, Bombay Nagpur United
1954 Tata Sports Club, Bombay Western Railways, Bombay
1955 Western Railway and U. P. XI were declared joint winners
1956 Services Mohun Bagan
1957 East Bengal Mohammedan Sporting Club
1958[31] Mohun Bagan Corps of Engineers, Kirkee
1959 Corps of Engineers, Kirkee Army XI, New Delhi
1960[31] Mohun Bagan Indian Navy
1961 Central Railway, Bombay Punjab Police, Jalandhar
1962 East Bengal Central Railway, Bombay
1963 Central Railway, Bombay East Bengal
1964 East Bengal and Mohun Bagan were declared joint winners
1965 Mohun Bagan and Calcutta Customs were declared joint winners
1966 Punjab Police Corps of Signals, Jalandhar
1967 East Bengal Bhilai Steel Plant
1968[31] Mohun Bagan Bengal Nagpur Railway
1969 Mohun Bagan and Winners Corps of Signal were declared joint winners
1970 Western Railway, Bombay East Bengal
1971 BSF Jalandhar and Mohun Bagan were declared joint winners
1972 BSF, Jalandhar Mohun Bagan
1973 I. H. F. Dark Blues and Mohun Bagan were declared joint winners
1974 Mohun Bagan Sikh Reg. Centre, Meerut
1975 Mohun Bagan Sikh Reg. Centre, Meerut
1976 A. S. C. Jalandhar C.R.P.F., Delhi
1977 Mohun Bagan Western Railway, Bombay
1978 Mohun Bagan CRPF, Delhi
1979 Mohun Bagan and A. S. C. Jalandhar were declared joint winners
1980 Western Railway, Bombay Mohun Bagan
1981 I. H. F. XI, East Zone Mohammedan Sporting Club
1982 E. M. E. Jalandhar and Eastern Railway Ath. Asson were declared joint winners
1983 E. M. E. Jalandhar C.R.P.F., Neemuch
1984 Mecon Sports Club, Ranchi A.S.C., Jalandhar
1985 Indian Airlines, Delhi E.M.E., Jalandhar
1986 M. E. G., Bangalore A.S.C., Jalandhar
1987 B. N. R. Rec. Club East Bengal
1988 I.F.F. Co., Delhi Southern Railway, Madras
1989 A. S.C., Jalandhar Corps of Signals, Jalandhar
1990 E. M. E., Jalandhar Corps of Signals, Jalandhar
1991 A. S.C., Jalandhar E.M.E., Jalandhar
1992 Army XI, Jalandhar A.S.C., Jalandhar
1993 Army XI, Jalandhar S.A.G., Ranchi
1994 Army XI, Jalandhar B. N. Railway
1995 Indian Railways Indian Airlines
1996 B. S. F., Jalandhar Tamil Nadu XI
1997 Punjab Police, Jalandhar B.S.F., Jalandhar
1998 B. S. F., Jalandhar Army XI, Jalandhar
1999 Punjab & Sind Bank, Jalandhar A.S.C., Jalandhar
2000 Punjab & Sind Bank, Jalandhar Tamil Nadu XI
2001[32] Central Industrial Security Force, Chandigarh Border Security Force, Jalandhar
2002[33] Punjab Police Central Reserve Police Force
2003[34] Border Security Force, Jalandhar Indian Oil Corporation
2004[35] Punjab & Sind Bank Army XI
2005[36] Border Security Force, Jalandhar Army XI
2006[37] Punjab & Sind Bank Border Security Force, Jalandhar
2007[38] Indian Airlines Border Security Force, Jalandhar
2008[39] Punjab Police and Punjab and Sind Bank were declared joint winners
2009[40] Indian Oil Corporation South Central Railway
2010[41] Air India Coal India
2011[42] Indian Oil Corporation ONGC
2012[43] Indian Oil Corporation Punjab National Bank
2013[44] Army XI ONGC
2014[45] Indian Oil Corporation Punjab National Bank
2015[46] Punjab National Bank Indian Oil Corporation
2016[47] Indian Oil Corporation Bharat Petroleum Corporation
2017 Tournament not held
2018 Indian Oil Corporation Bharat Petroleum Corporation
2019[48] Indian Oil Corporation Punjab National Bank
2020 Tournament not held
2021
2022[49] Indian Navy Punjab National Bank
2024[50] Indian Navy Indian Oil Corporation

Performance by teams

Team Championships
Mohun Bagan 14
Calcutta Customs 12
Calcutta Rangers (inc. Calcutta Naval Volunteers AC) 9
Indian Oil Corporation 7
SPG Mission, Ranchi 6
Border Security Force, Jalandhar 6
BN Railway 6
Punjab & Sind Bank 5
East Bengal 4
Tata Sports Club, Bombay 4
Punjab Police 4
A. S. C. Jalandhar 4
Army XI, Jalandhar 4
BY Association, Lucknow 3
Western Railway, Bombay 3
E. M. E. Jalandhar 3
Indian Airlines, Delhi / Air India 3
BE College, Sibpore 2
Bhopal Wanderers 2
Port Commissioners 2
Xaverians' Club 2
U.P. XI 2
Central Railway, Bombay 2
I. H. F. Dark Blues / I. H. F. XI, East Zone 2
E. M. E. Jalandhar 2
Indian Navy 2
St. James School 1
1st Royal Irish Rifles 1
Hornets AC 1
MAO College, Aligarh 1
East Indian Railway Asansol Rec. Club 1
EBR Sports Club 1
Calcutta FC 1
Telegraph Rec. Club 1
EIR Sports Club 1
Jhansi Heroes 1
Bombay Customs 1
Bhagawant Club, Tikamgarh 1
Hindustan Aircraft, Bangalore 1
Services 1
Corps of Engineers, Kirkee 1
Winners Corps of Signal 1
Mecon Sports Club, Ranchi 1
M. E. G., Bangalore 1
I.F.F. Co., Delhi 1
Indian Railways 1
Central Industrial Security Force, Chandigarh 1
Punjab National Bank 1

References

  1. ↑ BEIGHTON CUP WILL START FROM 19TH JANUARY AT KOLKATA. NE India Broadcast. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  2. ↑ আমরা হকিতেও ছিলাম, পেট্রোরসায়ন শিল্পেও ছিলাম — সবই এখন অতীত, Roy, Mohit. anandabazar.com. Anandabazar Patrika(31 January 2023). Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  3. ↑ WB Sports & Youth Dept — Hockey in West Bengal. wbsportsandyouth.gov.in. West Bengal Department of Youth Services And Sports. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  4. ↑ Beighton Cup. Hockey Bengal. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Prestigious Beighton Cup Revived After Three Years, 124th Edition Will Be Held From December 11–18. Hockey Passion. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Beighton Cup. Bharatiya Hockey. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  7. ↑ From the Beighton and Aga Khan Cup to the HIL, Mandapaka, Ravi Teja. Sportskeeda(25 October 2012). Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  8. ↑ The Wellesley Index to Victorian Periodicals 1824–1900{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Routledge(24 May 2013). ISBN 9781135795498
  9. ↑ Hockey Gods. Copyright © 2022 HockeyGods.com. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  10. ↑ The Legal Remembrancer's Manual{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. West Bengal (India). Legal Remembrancer's Directorate(1971)
  11. ↑ India List - Civil and Military{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. H.M. Stationery Office(1888)
  12. ↑ The Homeward Mail - PERSONAL AND OFFICIAL(6 February 1906). Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  13. ↑ Princess of Wales(11 March 1898). Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  14. ↑ Winchester College 1867-1920 (and Old Wykehamists 1975){{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Winchester College(1923)
  15. ↑ Busy Cupids(21 December 1921). Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  16. ↑ Cricket(30 July 1921). Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  17. ↑ Personal and General. The Near East({Template:Date).
  18. ↑ COURT AND PERSONAL(7 December 1921). Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  19. ↑ Rome Overnight{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Temple Press Ltd.(1965)
  20. ↑ LIST OF FRESHMEN(2 May 1919). Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  21. ↑ Winchester College 1867-1920 (and Old Wykehamists 1975){{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Winchester College(1923)
  22. ↑ Burke's Peerage{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Burke's Peerage Ltd.(1963)
  23. ↑ Sir Joseph Hood's Many Benefactions(10 Jan 1931). Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  24. ↑ Beighton Cup. bharatiyahockey.org. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 All hail hockey on history high, O’Brien, Barry. The Telegraph, 4 December 2004. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  26. ↑ Hockey in Bengal. bharatiyahockey.org. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  27. ↑ The Beighton Cup. bharatiyahockey.org. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Hockey in Kolkata. bharatiyahockey.org. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Needed: a fresh approach, Bandopadhya, Pratik. The Statesman 24 April 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  30. ↑ BEIGHTON CUP WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP (1895—2019). www.hockeybengal.org. Hockey Bengal. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Mohun Bagan Retain Beighton Cup. The Indian Express(16 May 1968). Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  32. ↑ CISF clinches maiden Beighton Cup(10 April 2001). Retrieved 2007-04-13.Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
  33. ↑ Punjab Police Regains Beighton Cup(5 April 2002). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  34. ↑ BSF douses IOC's hopes(3 April 2003). Retrieved 2007-04-13.Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
  35. ↑ PSB is champion. The Hindu(12 April 2004). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  36. ↑ Border Security Force lifts Beighton Cup(14 April 2005). Retrieved 2007-04-13.Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
  37. ↑ PSB lifts Beighton Cup(11 April 2006). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  38. ↑ Indian Airlines lift Beighton Cup. The Hindu(2007-04-11). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  39. ↑ Punjab Police, PSB declared joint winners of Beighton Cup. The Times of India(9 January 2009). Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  40. ↑ Indian Oil lifts Beighton Cup. The Hindu(16 December 2009). Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  41. ↑ Air India lifts maiden title. The Hindu(16 December 2010). Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  42. ↑ Air India lifts maiden title. The Hindu(12 November 2011). Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  43. ↑ Indian Oil retains Beighton Cup. The Hindu(11 November 2012). Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  44. ↑ Army XI lifts 118th Beighton Cup. Hockey India(15 November 2013). Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  45. ↑ Beighton Cup: It's Indian Oil again. The Hindu(5 December 2014). Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  46. ↑ Punjab National Bank win 120th edition of All-India Beighton Hockey Cup. Sportskeeda.com(12 October 2015). Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  47. ↑ Indian Oil beat Bharat Petroleum 5-3 to win 121 st Beighton Cup for 6th time. United News of India(27 December 2016). Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  48. ↑ IOCL wins 123rd All India Beighton Cup Hockey Tournamentl. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  49. ↑ Sanjay Bhaskar's Stellar Shootout Goalkeeping Helps Indian Navy Clinch JIS 124th Beighton Cup. hockeypassion.in. Hockey Passion. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  50. ↑ INDIAN NAVY LIFTS THE PRESTIGIOUS BEIGHTON CUP. neindiabroadcast.com(28 January 2024).

Further reading

  • A most remarkable community: Anglo-Indian contributions to sport in India. Contemporary South Asia({Template:Date). (Published online: "Routledge Contemporary South Asia"; 1 July 2010).
  • Teams with Most Wins in Prestigious Beighton Cup. hockeypassion.in. Hockey Passion(2 November 2022). Retrieved 3 November 2022.

Template:Field Hockey in India Template:Kolkata topics

Retrieved from "https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Beighton_Cup&oldid=447445"
Discover more