Impressive performance by Odisha forward Sudeep Chirmako helped India U-18 men’s hockey team win the silver medal in the 3rd Youth Summer Olympic Games (YSOG) at Parque Poliderportivo Roca in Buenos Aires (Argentina) today. Malaysia won the gold, defeating India 4-2 in the final.
Sudeep Chirmako emerged top scorer for India with 11 goals, including four against Austria. Indian U-18 men played a total of eight matches in this five-a-side hockey competition, won six and lost two. Indian U-18 women’s team also settled with silver medal after losing to hosts Argentina 1-3 in the final.
Hockey 5s is basically the T20 format of the field hockey. On a court shorter than the standard one, the two teams will vie for victory in three-quarters of fifteen minutes, instead of the normal four quarters.
INDIA U-18 MEN’S TEAM: Goalkeepers: Prashant Kumar Chauhan, Pawan. Defenders: Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, Sanjay. Mid-fielders: Vivek Sagar Prasad (Captain), Maninder Singh. Forwards: Shivam Anand, Rahul Kumar Rajbhar, Sudeep Chirmako. Coach & Support Staff: David John (Head Coach), B J Kariappa (Coach), Sonika Sudan (Physiotherapits).
INDIA U-18 WOMEN’S TEAM: Goalkeepers: Bichu Devi Kharibam, Khushboo. Defenders: Ishika Chaudhary, Salima Tete (Captain). Mid-fielders: Reet, Chetna. Forwards: Baljeet Kaur, Mumtaz Khan, Lalremsiami. Coach & Support Staff: David John (Head Coach), Baljeet Singh (Coach), Sonika Sudan (Physiotherapits).
RESULTS OF INDIA U-18 MEN’S TEAM:
Oct 7: India (Rabichandra Moirangthem 9`,20`; Sudeep Chirmako 11`,17`; Vivek Sagar Prasad 9`,18`; Shivam Anand 4`, Rahul Kumar Rajbhar 4`, Sanjay 6`, Maninder Singh 12`) beat Bangladesh 10-0.
Oct 8: India (Sudeep Chirmako 6’,11’,14’,18’; Shivam Anand 4’,10’,17’; Sanjay 2’, Vivek Sagar Prasad 13’) beat Austria (Paul Drusany 8’) 9-1.
Oct 9: India (Sudeep Chirmako 5’,10’; Rabichandra Moriangthem 5’,11’; Vivek Sagar Prasad 8’, Sanjay 14’, Rahul Kumar Rajbhar 18’) beat Kenya (Olanda Ouma 7’) 7-1.
Oct 10: India (Vivek Sagar Prasad 6’,18’; Shivam Anand 20’) lost to Australia (Miles Davis 2’, James Collins 3’, Alistair Murray 17’, Marais Bradley 19’) 3-4.
Oct 11: India (Sanjay 4’,17’; Shivam Anand 7’, Sudeep Chirmako 10’, Rahul Kumar Rajbhar 17’) beat Canada (Rowan Childs 15’,15’) 5-2.
Oct 12 (QF): India (Shivam Anand 1’,8’; Maninder Singh 3’, Sanjay 17’) beat Poland (Eryk Bembenek 16’, Michal Nowakowski 18’) 4-2.
Oct 13 (SF): India (Rahul Kumar Rajbhar 3’, Sudeep Chirmako 12’,18’) beat Argentina (FAcundo Zarate 4’) 3-1.
Oct 14 (Final): India (Vivek Sagar Prasad 3’,6’) lost to Malaysia (Rosdi 5’, Anuar 14’,19’; Ishak 18) 2-4.
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PHOTO: Odisha forward Sudeep Chirmako.