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Hockey Odisha beat Association of Indian Universities (AIU) 4-0 in the play-off match to finish third in the 6th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship (Division-A) at Saifai in Uttar Pradesh today. Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) emerged champions, defeating Hockey Punjab in the final via penalty shootout.
Earlier, Hockey Odisha lost to RSPB 2-3 in the semifinals. Led by Alok Barla, Hockey Odisha reached the semifinals after a gap of 24 years with three wins and a draw in Pood-D. They beat Sports Authority of India 4-1, Hockey Gangpur-Odisha 3-2, Hocky Patiala 2-1 and drew with Hockey Haryana 2-2.
Placed in the same pool, Hockey Gangpur-Odisha, the second team from the state, bowed out from the league stage, winning two matches, drawing one and losing one. Led by Roshan Minz, Hockey Gangpur-Odisha started their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Hockey Haryana. Subsequently, they beat Sports Authority of India 9-3 and Hockey Patiala 6-1. But the defeat at the hands of Hockey Odisha cost them dear.
Four players from Odisha played crucial roles in the Railway triumph. Among them, international full back Amit Rohidas scored two goals each in the semifinal and final. Other three Odisha players in the Railway team were youth international goal keeper Sushant Tirkey, former India junior forward Stanley Victor Minz and forward Rajin Kandulna.
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HOCKEY GANGPUR-ODISHA TEAM: Roshan Minz (Captain), Bikash Toppo, Ashish Anmol Willison Minz, Sanjay Xalxo, Anand Lakra, Sudhir Ekka, Arbin Kujur, Salman Lakra, Silanand Bilung, Saroj Barla, Kuldeep Kerketta, Janma Majhi, Pratap Lakra, Abhishek Lakra, William Xalxo, Dinesh Ekka (GK), Ranjan Ekka (GK). Coach: Bijay Kumar Lakra; Manager: Lajrus Barla.
HOCKEY ODISHA TEAM: Alok Barla (Captain), Pankaj Rajak (GK), Riyadhan Tidu (GK), Dipsan Tirkey, Nilam Sanjib Xess, Sanjit Toppo, Kunjan Toppo, Prakash Barla, Prasanna Tirkey, Theophil Kujur, Nitin Mukesh Tigga, Upendra Majhi, Anand Kujur, Suman Beck, Tikei Kujur, Suman Kujur, Suraj Minz.
RESULTS OF ODISHA TEAMS:
April 20: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Pratap Lakhra 3rd, Sanjay Xalso 47th) drew with Hockey Haryana (Gagandeep Singh 33rd, Bharat 41st) 2-2.
April 20: Hockey Odisha (Mukesh Nitin Tigga 19th, Teophil Kujur 22nd, Suraj Minz 30th, Prakash Barla 36th) beat Sports Authority of India (KP Somaiah 57th) 4-1.
April 23: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Sanjay Xalxo 4th, 45th; Roshan Minz 21st, 58th; Pratap Lakra 6th, 13th, 55th; Janma Majhi 10th, Bikash Toppo 17th) beat Sports Authority of India (Raheel Mohammed Mouseen 38 th, 53rd; Yogesh Yadav 13th) 9-3.
April 24: Hockey Odisha (Rakesh Tete 23rd, Nilam Sanjeep Xess 35th, Suraj Minz 53rd) beat Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Bikash Toppo 30th, Roshan Minz 56th) 3-2.
April 25: Hockey Odisha (Teophil Kujur 4th, Alok Barla 45th) drew with Hockey Haryana (Bharat 32nd, Sandeep Singh 35th) 2-2.
April 25: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Pratap Lakhra 6th, 53rd; 27th, Bikash Toppo 29th, Sanjay Xalso 33rd, Anmol Ashish Minz 42nd) beat Hockey Patiala (Lovjeet Singh 12) 6-1.
April 27: Hockey Odisha (Prakash Barla 28th, Teophil Kujur 38th) beat Hockey Patiala (Harwinder Singh 12th) 2-1.
April 29 (Semifinal): Railway Sports Promotion Board (Amit Rohidas 9th, 16th; Affan Yousuf 24th) beat Odisha (Nilam Sanjeep Xess 11th) 4-2.
April 30: Hockey Odisha (Kunjan Topno 35th, 52nd; Dipsan Tirkey 36th, Neelam Sanjeep Xess 54th) beat Association of Indian Universities 4-0.
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TOP: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha team poses before leaving for the National championship.
RIGHT: Hockey Odisha team poses before leaving for the National championship.
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