Hockey Association of Odisha (HAO) finished fourth in the 13th Hockey India Junior (U-20) Men National Championship, losing to 1-3 in the bronze medal match against Haryana at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela today. Hockey Madhya Pradesh won the gold medal, defeating Hockey Chandigarh 4-2 in the final later in the day.
Earlier in the semifinals, Hockey Association of Odisha suffered a heart-breaking defeat, going down to Hockey Madhya Pradesh 11-12 in the shootout after play in the regulation time ended in 4-4 draw.
Host Odisha reached semifinals, defeating Hockey Karnataka 4-2 in the last quarterfinal on June 19. Odisha qualified for the quarterfinals, winning all three of their league matches in Pool-D.
They beat Hockey Gujarat 18-0, Hockey Jammu & Kashmir 10-0 and Hockey Manipur 3-1. Odisha defender Akash Soreng became the third most goal scorer of the championship with nine goals to his name. He has scored all nine goals from penalty corners.
ODISHA JUNIOR MEN TEAM: Goalkeepers: Nelsan Barla, Vivek Lakra. Defenders: Anmol Ekka (Vice-Captain), Wilson Xaxa, Aakash Soreng, Parsant Birla, Sanjit Tirkey, Asit Lakra. Mid-fielders: Rosan Kujur (Captain), Ranjit Lakra, Ritik Kujur, Arbin Toppo, Jasman Munda, Adrohit Ekka. Forwards: Pratap Toppo, Deepak Minz, Paulus Lakra, Silheiba Lisam. Head Coach: BJ Kariappa, Manager: Abhisek Lakra.
ODISHA RESULTS:
June 12 (Group-D League): Hockey Association of Odisha (Arbin Toppo 4-PC, 28-FG, 33-FG, 50-FG; Akash Soreng 11-PC, 46-PC, 54-PC; Asit Lakra 22-PC, Deepak Minz 27-PC, 52-FG; Adrohit Ekka 31-FG, Rosan Kujur 36-PC, 36-FG; Paulus Lakra 47-FG, Pratap Toppo 49-FG, Sanjit Minz 59-PC, Ritik Kujur 59-PC, Silheiba Lisham 60-FG) beat Hockey Gujarat 18-0.
June 16 (Group-D League): Hockey Association of Odisha (Akash Soreng 3-PC, 19-PC, 36-PC; Silheiba Lisham 4-FG, Deepak Minz 22-FG, Arbin Toppo 26-PC, Ritik Kujur 46-PS, 60-PC; Paulus Lakra 48-FG, Anmol Ekka 57-PC) beat Hockey Jammu & Kashmir 10-0.
June 18 (Group-D League): Hockey Association of Odisha (Akash Soreng 6-PC, Rosan Kujur 17-PC, Deepak Minz 22-PC) beat Manipur Hockey (Gurumayum Dingku Sharma 39-FG, Khangembam Somikant Singh 44-PC) 3-2.
June 19 (Quarterfinals): Hockey Association of Odisha (Anmol Ekka 10-PC, Rosan Kujur 24-PC, 50-FG; Sanjit Tirkey 38-FG) beat Hockey Karnataka (Yashash Ponappa Td 16-PC, Harsha Hr 27-FG) 4-2.
June 21 (Semifinals): Hockey Association of Odisha (Deepak Minz 24-FG, Akash Soreng 31-PC, Anmol Ekka 39-PS, Pratap Toppo 54-PC) drew with Hockey Madhya Pradesh (Mohammad Zaid Khan 14-FG, Ali Ahmad 17-FG, Mohit Karma 29-PC, Zameer Mohammad 39-PC) 4-4. Shootout: Madhya Pradesh (Sundram Singh Rajawat, Shreyas Dhupe, Love Kumar Kanojiya, Ankit Pal, Sundram Singh Rajawat, Shreyas Dhupe, Ankit Pal, Mohammad Zaid Khan, Shreyas Dhupe, Sundram Singh Rajawat, Mohammad Zaid Khan, Love Kumar Kanojiya) beat Odisha (Anmol Ekka, Adrohit Ekka, Paulus Lakra, Rosan Kujur, Rosan Kujur, Anmol Ekka, Adrohit Ekka, Paulus Lakra, Rosan Kujur, Anmol Ekka, Adrohit Ekka) 12-11.
June 22 (3rd/4th Place): Hockey Haryana (Shubham 4-FG, Rohit 28-PC, Prikshit Panchal 51-FG) beat Hockey Association of Odisha (Akash Soreng 53-PC) 3-1.
June 22 (Final): Hockey Madhya Pradesh (Shreyas Dhupe 17-FG, 46-FG; Mohd Konain Dad 25-FG, Ali Ahmad 52-FG) beat Hockey Chandigarh (Sumit 9-FG, Surinder Singh 31-FG) 4-2.
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PHOTO: Members of Hockey Association of Odisha team pose ahead of the 13th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship in Rourkela.