CUTTACK 05-Apr-2015 65
Last year`s runners-up East Coast Railway (ECoR) improved upon their achievement by winning the men`s title in the Nalco Cup State Hockey Championship at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack today. But the railway side`s 2-1 win over Khurda in the floodlit final was marred by a debatable umpiring decision, which triggered a walk-out by Khurda players.
Suresh Toppo gave ECoR the lead with a field goal in the 22nd minute. But Khurda fought back to level the score through a penalty corner conversion by junior international and Kalinga Lancers defender Dipsan Tirkey in the 48th minute.
With 12 minutes to go for the hooter, the match kicked up the controversy as umpire awarded a penalty stroke in favour of ECoR. Protesting against the decision, Khurda players refused to continue with the game and walked out of the ground.
However, after a lot of persuasion by officials of Hockey Odisha, Khurda players relented and the match resumed after an interruption of 20 minutes. ECoR eventually clinched victory with Sanjib Kujur converting the penalty stroke.
RESULTS:
March 30:
Match No 1: CRPF (Rajesh Dang 5) beat Odisha Police 1-0.
March 31:
Match No 2: Deogarh (Abhiram Dang 27, Kushal Horo 61) beat NALCO (Severan Dung Dung 33, S Lakra 36) 5-4 in tie-breaker (Full-time 2-2).
Match No 3: KIIT University (Binod Lakra 6, 54; Biswajit Kujur 15, 63; Amit Ekka 20, Tairash Oram 30, Roshan Kujur 41) beat Jagatsinghpur 7-0.
Match No 4: Paradeep Port Trust (M Minz 2, 4; Amrdeep Dung Dung 5, 38; PS Ekka 32) beat Ganjam 7-0.
Match No 5: Khurda (Prasan Tirkey 21, 68; Summit Toppo 52, 61; NS Xess 4, NM Tigga 36) beat Sambalpur 6-0.
April 1:
Match No 6: East Coast Railway (N Barla 2, 11, 19; Rajin Kandulna 3, 49; Sanjit Kujur 13; Md Raj 26; Dilip Toppo 51) beat Phulbani (M Tigga 53) 8-1.
Match No 7: Dhenkanal (Bikash Pradhan 1) beat Bargarh (Charanjit Singh 25) 4-3 in tie-breaker (Full-time 1-1).
Match No 8: Angul (Manoj 5, 8, 37, 55, 63, 64; DP Kujur 13; A Lakra 28, 45; Jugal 47) beat Bolangir (Ashis Ekka 48) 10-1.
Match No 9: Cuttack got walk-over against Rourkela Steel Plant, who did not report.
April 2:
Match No 10: Dhenkanal (DK Nag 32, Sanjay Kumar Mahant 33) beat Deogarh (Saroj Tigga 15, Jatin Barla 19) 7-5 in tie-breaker (Full time 2-2).
Match No 11: CRPF (Javed Khan 10th, 30; Rajesh Kindo 8, Susil Tete 9, Rohen Sing 26, Vikram Sharma 38, Simon Tirkey 58) beat KIIT University 7-0.
Match No 12 (1st QF): East Coast Railway (Deepak Lugun 39, 45, 52, 68; Arbin Barla 2, 38, 41; Sunil Toppo 33; Rajin Kandulna 43) beat Paradeep Port Trust (Erness Surin 38) 9-1.
Match No 13: Sundargarh (Amit Chirmako 3, 52; Sudhir Kujur 11, 56; Tikei Kujur 5, Ashwin Kujur 57, A Tete 68) beat Mayurbhanj (Bharat Bhusan Sethi 67) 7-1.
April 3:
Match No 14 (2nd QF): Angul (Xavier Ekka, Amit Lakra, Dev Prakash Kujur) beat Sundargarh (Suraj Minz, Ashwin Kujur) 3-2.
Match No 15 (3rd QF): Khurda (Prakash Barla 3, Nitin Mukesh Tigga 3, Sumit Toppo, Upendra Majhi, Sanjiv Ekka) beat Dhenkanal 9-0.
Match No 16 (4th QF): Cuttack (Siman Tirkey) beat CRPF (Suraj Kerketta) 3-2 in tie-breaker.
April 4:
Match No 17 (SF): East Coast Railway (Rajin Kandulna 3, Deepak Lugun, M Deepak Raj, Dilip Toppo, David Minz) beat Cuttack (U P Singh) 7-1.
Match No 18 (SF): Khurda (Prasana Tirkey 2, Niten Mukesh Tiga 2, while Upendra Majhi, Sumit Toppo) beat Angul (Jugal, Mukti Prasad) 6-2.
April 5:
Match No 19 (Final): East Coast Railway (Suresh Toppo 22, Sanjib Kujur 58) beat Khurda (Dipsan Tirkey 48) 2-1.
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PHOTO: ECoR men celebrate after emerging champions in Cuttack on April 5, 2015.
