BHUBANESWAR 13-Jun-2013 297
Odisha finished runners-up for the third time when they went down to defending champions Punjab 1-2 in the final of the 3rd Hockey India Junior Men National Championship at Moti Lal Nehru Sports Complex, Rai, Sonepat (Haryana) today.
Skipper Gaganpreet Singh scored both the goals for Punjab, converting a penalty corner in the 10th minute and a penalty stroke in the 63rd minute. Joseph Toppo.scored a field goal for Odisha in the 24th minute. Odisha had an opportunity to restore parity for the second time, but the team`s penalty corner was saved by the Punjab custodian.
Earlier in the semi-finals, Punjab trounced Madhya Pradesh 6-2, while Odisha defeated Maharashtra 2-1. After a goalless first half, Joseph Toppo scored an opening goal for Odisha in the 41st minute. A field goal scored by Sunil Ekka in the 55th minute helped Odisha to take a 2-0 lead. Maharashtra reduced the margin in the 60th minute through Vinit Kamble.
In the quarterfinals, Odisha thrashed Himachal Pradesh 5-1. Sunil Ekka (11th, 62nd) scored a brace, while Joseph Toppo (15th), Teophil Kujur (35th) and Dipson Tirkey (62nd) contributed one goal each. Led by mid-fielder David Minz, Odisha qualified for the quarterfinals, winning all three of their league matches in Pool-B.
ODISHA RESULTS (Pool-B):
June 5: Odisha (Alok Barla 12, 14, 34, Anand Lakra 15, 69, Teophil Kujur 24, Alsem Lakra 30, 33, 40, 46, 60, 64, Deepak Lugun 43, Nilam Sanjeep Xess 49, Kunjan Toppo 52, Sunil Ekka 53, 59, 70) beat Jammu & Kashmir 18-0.
June 8: Odisha beat Bhopal 4-0
June 10: Odisha (Dipsan Tirkey 6, Joseph Toppo 24, Sunil Ekka 33, Saroj Barla 35, Felix Baa 60, Teophil Kujur 64, 70) beat Tamil Nadu (M Dhilleepan 3) 7-1.
ODISHA TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Subodh Tirkey, Gyan Prakash Minz. Defenders: Dipsan Tirkey, Nilam Sanjib Xess. Mid-fielders: Saroj Barla, Kunjan Topno, David Minz, Anuranjan Tirkey, Alok Barla. Forwards: Alsem Lakra, Joseph Toppo, Felix Baa, Sanjay Tudu, Deepak Lugun, Teophil Kujur, Sunil Ekka. Coach: Rajukant Saini, Manager: Ranjan Kumar Das.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Odisha team that finished runners-up in the 3rd Hockey India Junior Men National Championship at Sonepat on June 13, 2013.
