Odisha held formidable Air India Sports Promotion Board to 1-1 draw in their opening Group-D match of the 10th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2020 (Division-A) in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh today.

Prasad Kujur gave Odisha the lead with a field goal early in the fifth minute, while Mohammed Raheel Mouseen equalized for Air India in the 55th minute. This was the best performance of Odisha against Air India in three successive Senior National Championships.

In the previous two Senior National Championships against Air india, Odisha lost 2-3 in the quarterfinals in 2018 and 3-6 at the pool stage in 2019.

ODISHA SQUAD: Cyril Lugun, Deepak John Kerketta (Captain), Suman Beck, Sushil Dhanwar, Prasad Kujur, Prakash Dhir, Abhijeet Swain, Krishna Tirkey, Mangal Lohar, Sunil Jojo, Upendra Majhi, Ajay Kumar Ekka, Pradeep Ekka, Reyadan Tidu (GK), Sahil Kumar Nayak (GK), Samir Ekka, Laban Lugun, Rahul Ekka. Coach: Kalu Charan Choudhury.

ODISHA RESULTS:
January 25: Odisha (Prasad Kujur 5-FG) drew with Air India Sports Promotion Board (Mohammed Raheel Mouseen 55-FG) 1-1.
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PHOTO: Members of Hockey Odisha squad pose at the 10th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship (Division-A) in Jhansi on 25 January, 2020.