BHUBANESWAR 13-Mar-2014 282
Debutants Hockey Gangpur-Odisha made history by winning the title in the 4th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship (Division B) at Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Lucknow today. In the nail-biting final, Hockey Gangpur fought back from 2-1 down to edge out Maharashtra 3-2.
In the semifinals, Hockey Ganpur beat Namdhari XI 2-0. Earlier, Hockey Gangpur won all five of their league matches by huge margin to finish at the top of Pool C with full 15 points. They scored a total of 41 goals, while conceding only three. They hammered Puducherry 9-2, Bengal 5-1, Assam 10-0, Tripura 9-0 and Mizoram 6-0. Following are the results so far.
TEAM HOCKEY GANGPUR-ODISHA: Dinesh Ekka, William Xalxo, Sushil Kiro, Amardeep Ekka, Banamali Xess, Bikash Toppo, Roshan Minz, Sashi Topno, Bruno Herdino Lugun, Dillip Kerketta, Kishore Lakra, Mangal Kispotta, Asish Anmol Minz, Santosh Majhi, Amarjeet Ekka, Birendra Lakra, John Juel Topno, Philmon Tete. Coach: Lazrus Barla; Manager: Surendra Barla.
RESULTS:
February 27: Hockey Gangpur (Bruno Hedrino Lugun 5th, 26th); Banamali Xess (49th, 56th); Amarjeet Ekka (16th), Kishor Lakra (31st), Bikash Toppo (39th), Roshan Minz (40th), Ashish Anmol Minz (43th) beat Puducherry (N Sellamuthu 18th), N Kamalakannan (65th) 9-2.
February 28: Hockey Gangpur (Sashi Toppo 4th), William Xalxo (10th), Bruno Hedrino Lugun (23th), Ashish Anmol Minz (54th), Dillip Kerketta (63th) beat Bengal (Sunil Shah 2nd) 5-1.
March 1: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Ashish Anmol Minz 9th, 13th, 24th; Amarjeet Ekka 7th, 18th; Banamali Xess 2nd, 10th; William Xalxo 11th, Shushil Kiro 41st, Kishor Lakra 30th) beat Assam 10-0.
March 2: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Ashish Anmol Minz 9th, 31st, 55th, 58th; Willam Xaxlo 22nd, 33rd, 41st; Rosan Minz 47th, Banamali Xess 69th) beat Tripura 9-0.
March 4: Hockey Gangpur (Ashish Anmol Minz 3rd, 17th; Banamali Xess 13th, Mangal Kispotta 23rd, Dillip Kerketta 30th, Sashi Topno 39th) beat Mizoram 6-0.
March 12 (Semifinal): Hockey Gangpur (William Xalxo 42nd, Ashish Anmol Minz 59th) beat Namdhari XI 2-0.
March 13 (Final): Hockey Gangpur (William Xalxo 1st, Bikash Toppo 35th, Ashish Anmol Minz 52) beat Maharashtra (Vishal Pillay 3rd, Vinit Kamble 29th) 3-2.
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PHOTO: Division B National champions Hockey Gangpur men`s team in Lucknow on March 13, 2014.