Indian Junior Mens (U-21) Hockey Team concluded their tour of Europe with a 1-1 (3-1 Shootout) win over Germany in the fifth and last match in Breda, the Netherlands yesterday. Odisha mid-fielder Mukesh Toppo scored the only goal for Indian in the regulation time.

Three players from Odisha represented the 20-member Indian Junior Team that played a total of five matches across three nations against Belgium, Germany and a Netherlands Club team called Bredase Hockey Vereniging Push during the ongoing tour.

They won two matches in shootout and suffered three outright defeats. The other two Odisha players were: defender Anmol Ekka and mid-fielders Rosan Kujur. All three made their international debuts during the Europe tour.

Both Ekka and Kujur are cadets of Bhubaneswar-based Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre. Toppo is an inmate of Government-run Sports Hostel, Panposh, Rourkela. The Indian team was led by defender Rohit.

INDIAN JUNIOR MENS HOCKEY TEAM: Goalkeepers: Prince Deep Singh, Bikramjit Singh. Defenders: Shardanand Tiwari, Yogember Rawat, Anmol Ekka, Rohit, Manoj Yadav, Talem Priyo Barta. Midfielders: Ankit Pal, Roshan Kujur, Bipin Billavara Ravi, Mukesh Toppo, Manmeet Singh, Vachan H A. Forwards: Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Arshdeep Singh, Gurjot Singh, Mohd Konain Dad, Dilraj Singh, Gursewak Singh.

RESULTS:

20 May 2024 (Antwerp, Belgium): India (Shardanand Tiwari 3-PS, 27-PS) drew with Belgium (?) 2-2 in regulation time. Shoot-out: India (Gurjot Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Dilraj Singh, Manmeet Singh) beat Begium (?) 4-2.

22 May 2024 (At Breda, Netherlands): India (Rohit 44, 57) lost to Belgium (?) 2-3.

23 May 2024 (At Breda, Netherlands): India (Rohit 18, Sourabh Anand Khushwaha 24, Ankit Pal 32, Arshdeep Singh 58) lost to Bredase Hockey Vereniging Push (?) 4-5.

28 May 2024 (At Monchengladbach, Germany): India (Yogember Rawat, Gurjot Singh) lost to Germany (?) 2-3.

29 May 2024 (At Breda, Netherlands): India (Mukesh Toppo 33) drew with Germany (?) 1-1. Shootout: India (Gurjot Singh, Dilraj Singh, Manmeet Singh) beat Germany (?) 3-1.
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PHOTO: Odisha players (L-R) Rosan Kujur, Anmol Ekka and Mukesh Toppo pose in Bangalore on 4 May 2024 after being selected in the Indian Junior Mens Hockey Team for the tour of Europe.