Odisha defeated Jharkhand 1-0 in their third and last Group-C match of the Junior Boys National Football Championship (Tier-1) for BC Roy Trophy at GNDU Sports Complex in Amritsar, Punjab today. Captain Aman Lakra scored the all-important goal in the 57th minute.
But the hard-fought win went in vain as Odisha bowed out of the tournament, suffering defeats in their first two matches against Karnataka and Manipur. Odisha finished third in the group with three points, while group toppers Manipur qualified for the semifinals with three wins and full nine points.
Football Association of Odisha fielded a 21-member Odisha team for this championship. But the name of Odisha forward Md Farhan Ahsan was not there in players list published by the All India Football Federation. A total of 16 teams participated in this tournament.
ODISHA TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Soumya Ranjan Debta (Bargarh), Uday Ekka (Sundargarh).
Defenders: Bishnu Prasad Sahoo (Puri), Kiran Munda (Keonjhar), Siba Munda (Bargarh), Ayush Ashrujeet (Bhubaneswar), Shankar Bhue (Bargarh), Jenga Lakra (Sundargarh), Krushna Chandra Hansdah (Mayurbhanj), Aniket Khadia (Sundargarh).
Mid-fielders: Swagatam Sahoo (Kendrapara), Satya Naik (Keonjhar), M Raj Kumar Rao (Ganjam), Sameer Toppo (Sundargarh), Aman Lakra (Sundargarh), Pintu Nag (Nabarangpur), Viky Majhi (Sundargarh).
Forwards: Ishant Kujur (Rourkela), Prasanjit Bada (Bhubaneswar), Bijay Murmu (Mayurbhanj), Md Farhan Ahsan (Sambalpur).
Coaches & Support Staff: Sk Manjoor (Head Coach), Dhaneswar Tirkey (Assistant Coach), Chhita Ranjan Behera (Managar), Saroj Kumar Das (Physiotherapist).
ODISHA RESULTS:
20 July 2025 (League match): Odisha (Ishant Kujur 6) lost to Karnataka (Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi 7, 45+3, Pavish Kumar 17) 1-3. PoM: Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi.
22 July 2025 (League match): Odisha (Aman Lakra 57) lost to Manipur (Khutleibam Sultan 26, Amom Krish Singh 70) 1-2.
24 July 2025 (League match): Odisha (Aman Lakra 57) beat Jharkhand 1-0.
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PHOTO: Players, coaches and support staff of the Odisha team pose at the Junior Boys National Football Championship in Amritsar on 20 July 2025.