Hockey Odisha maintained their absolute supremacy in the Hockey India Sub-Junior Men National Championship (Division A) as they pocketed the title for the fifth time in a row, trouncing Hockey Haryana 4-1 in the final at Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi today.
With Hockey Gangpur-Odisha finishing third, drubbing Hockey 5-3 earlier in the day, it came as a proverbial icing on the cake for the stick-sport in the Eastern India state. The third-place finish by Hockey Gangpur-Odisha came as creditable achievement considering the fact that the team was playing in Division A for the first time after winning the Division B title last year.
Hockey Odisha coach Kalu Charan Choudhury described the title triumph as the result of hard work and team effort. ``Because of the sports hostel scheme, Odisha has been doing well at the sub-junior and junior level. Our youngsters have developed fine coordination by training and practising as team through out the year,`` he said.
Speaking on Hockey Odisha`s performance in the final, coach Choudhury said, ``Our game plan was to control the mid-field and capitalise on scoring opportunities. The boys executed the plans with perfection.`` Choudhury praised the individual performances of Sabyasachi Minz and Suman Beck, who were adjudged as the tournament`s best goalkeeper and best defender respectively. Hockey Odisha secretary Pratap Satpathy congratulated the players and support staff for winning the title in all five editions of the championship.
Earlier in the semifinals, Hockey Odisha dumped Hockey Karnataka 3-0, while Hockey Gangpur-Odisha went down fighting to Hockey Haryana 3-4. Enroute to the last-four stage, Hockey Odisha won two league matches and drew one in Pool A, while Hockey Gangpur-Odisha won all three league matches in Pool C. Hockey Odisha started their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy. But they registered back-to-back wins in the next two matches, hammering Manipur Hockey 8-3 and SAI 9-0. Overall, Hockey Odisha scored 19 goals, while conceding five.
Hockey Gangpur-Odisha won three pool matches by huge margin. They started on a flying note, decimating Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu 17-0 and continuing their goal deluge they hammered Chhattisgarh Hockey 18-1 and Hockey Punjab 5-2 in the next two games. Overall they scored a whopping 40 goals, while conceding only three.
HOCKEY ODISHA TEAM: Amit Chirmako, Sabyasachi Minz, Satish Lakra, Sumon Beg, Sanjit Beg, Samir Ekka, Tapan Surin, Krishna Tirkey, Sudhir Kujur, Aswini Kujur, Suraj Lakra, Pradip Lakra, Ajit Ekka, Bikash Kujur, Rohit Beg, Bima Ekka, Niraj Xess, Navin Kujur. Coach: Kalu Charan Choudhury; Manager: Abhaya Samantray.
HOCKEY ODISHA RESULTS:
May 17: Hockey Odisha (Bhima Ekka 29-FG, Sudhir Kujur 45-FG) drew with Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy (Aniket Yadav 53-FG, 60-FG) 2-2.
May 18: Hockey Odisha (Suman Beck 7-PC, 46-PC; Ashwin Kujur 33-FG, 35-FG, 53-FG; Amit Chirmako 58-FG; Sudhir Kujur 62-FG, 66-FG) beat Manipur Hockey (Romesh Kumar Heisnam 3-FG; Mani Huidrom 41-PC, 51-FG) 8-3.
May 20: Hockey Odisha (Sudhir Kujur 16-FG, 41-FG; Pradeep Lakra 19-FG, 23-FG, 39-FG, 44-FG; Bikash Kujur 31-FG, Amit Chirmako 46-FG, 48-FG) beat Sports Authority of India 9-0.
May 23 (SF): Hockey Odisha (Suman Beck 15-PC; Ashwin Kujur 30-FG; Pradeep Lakra 39-FG) beat Hockey Karnataka 3-0.
May 24 (Final): Hockey Odisha (Ashwin Kujur 10-FG, Sudhir Kujur 14-FG, Suman Beck 27-PS, Pradeep Lakra 69-FG) beat Hockey Haryana (Abhishek 43-FG) 4-1 .
HOCKEY GANGPUR-ODISHA TEAM: Bishal Minz, Dilip Sa, Cyril Lugun, Akash Ekka, Prakash Dhir, Gregory Xess, Akash Kujur, Amandeep Lakra, Ibrahim Toppo, Rahul Ekka, Sudip Chirmako, Mandep Kerketta, Shakti Kujur, Namas Barwa, Biraj Topno, Albret Tette, Anand Ekka, Abhijeet Swain. Coach-cum-manager: Bijaya Lakra.
HOCKEY GANGPUR-ODISHA RESULTS:
May 19: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Nahas Barwa 2-FG, 5-FG, 13-FG, 31-FG, 70-FG; Mandip Kerketta 8-FG, 9-FG, 12-FG; Prakash Dhir 14-PC, 43-FG; Albert Tete 18-FG, 65-FG; Rahul Ekka 20-FG; Shakti Kujur 34-FG; Abhijeet Swain 61-FG; Sudeep Chirmako 63-FG, 69-FG) beat Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu 17-0.
May 21: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Amandeep Lakra 3-PC, 68-PC; Mandip Kerketta 19-FG, 37-FG, 69-FG; Biraj Topno 22-FG, 23-FG; Sudeep Chirmako 27-FG, 46-FG, 49-FG; Prakash Dhir 30-PC, 32-PC, 39-PC, 64-FG; Nahas Barwa 38-FG, 55-FG; Shakti Kujur 48-FG, 51-FG) beat Chhattisgarh Hockey (Gurpeert Singh 43-FG) 18-1.
May 22: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Biraj Topno 10-FG), Albert Tete 15-PC, 43-FG; Rahul Ekka 18-FG, Prakash Dhir 32-FG) beat Hockey Punjab (Dilpreet Singh 1-FG, Varinder Singh 39-PC) 5-2.
May 23 (SF): Hockey Haryana (Vishal Antil 50-PC, 63-PC; Abhishek 56-FG, 67-FG) beat Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Mandip Kerketta 14-PC; Albert Tete 64-FG; Amandeep Lakra 69-PC) 4-3.
May 24 (3rd/4th position): Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Biraj Topno 11 -FG, 34 –PC; Nahas Barwa 38-FG, Mandip Kerketta 44-FG, Ibrahim Toppo 53-FG) beat Hockey Karnataka (Pavan M Madiwalar 6-FG, Likhith B M 52-FG, Rajesh 60-PC) 5-3.
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PHOTO: Hockey Odisha players pose after emerging champions in Delhi on May 24, 2015.