BHUBANESWAR 30-Apr-2017
Hockey Odisha achieved glorious hat-trick by winning the third successive title in the Hockey India Junior Men National Championship (Division-A) at Bhopal today. Playing the final for the seventh time, Hockey Odisha rode on a brace by captain Suraj Minz to make mincemeat of Steel Plant Sports Board 6-0.
The huge victory in the final was the seventh successive one for Hockey Odisha in the seventh edition of the championship. Hockey Punjab finished third, defeating Sports Authority of India 5-2 in penalty shoot out (Full time 2-2).
Earlier in the thrilling first semifinal, Hockey Odisha edged out Hockey Punjab 9-8 via sudden death today. The exciting match went to the sudden death after play in regulation time and penalty shoot out ended in 4-4 and 3-3 draw. In their quarterfinal match, Hockey Odisha hammered Hockey Maharashtra 7-3.
Meanwhile, Hockey Gangpur-Odisha crashed out in the quarterfinals, suffering 1-5 defeat at the hands of Steel Plant Sports Board today. Earlier, Hockey Odisha topped Pool-A with wins over Bengal, Steel Plant, Mumbai and Manipur, while Hockey Gangpur-Odisha finished Pool-B toppers, beating Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
RESULTS:
April 20: Hockey Odisha beat Bengal Hockey Association 6-2.
April 20: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha beat Chhattisgarh Hockey 4-3.
April 22: Hockey Odisha beat Steel Plant Sports Board 3-1.
April 22: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Pratap Lakra 9-PC, 49-PC; Sushil Ekka 12-FG, Sibren Lakra 14-FG, 19-FG, 39-FG, 52-FG; Gregory Xess 21-FG, Anand Ekka 25-FG, 64-FG; Roshan 29-FG, Sanjay Xalxo 36-FG, 69-FG; Manip Kerketta 45-FG, 67-FG) beat Hockey Himachal 15-1.
April 23: Hockey Odisha (Tikei Kujur 24-PC, Cyril Lugun 28-PC, Pradeep Lakra 30-FG, Suraj Minz 47-FG, Sudhir Kujur 55-FG) beat Mumbai Hockey Association 5-1.
April 23: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha beat Hockey Maharashtra 8-1.
April 25: Hockey Odisha (Sudhir Kujur 3-FG, 50-PC, 69-PC; Nitin Mukesh Tigga 5-FG, Suraj Minz 8-FG) beat Hockey Manipur 5-3.
April 25: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Pratap Lakra 38, 67; Sibren Lakra 14, Biju Ekka 32, Gregory Xess 40) beat Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu 5-2.
April 27 (QF): Hockey Odisha (Amit Chirmako 6-FG, 36-FG, 66-FG; Sudhir Kujur 16-FG, 55-PS, 69-PC; Ashwin Kujur 53-FG) beat Hockey Maharashtra (18, 58, 62) 7-3.
April 27 (QF): Hockey Gangpur-Odisha lost to Steel Plant Sports Board 1-5.
April 29 (SF): Hockey Odisha (Suraj Minz 15-FG, 31-FG, 61-FG; Suman Beck 49-FG, Tikei Kujur-SO, Sudhir Kujur-SO, Suman Kujur-SO; Tikei Kujur-SD, Suman Kujur-SD) beat Hockey Punjab 9-8 in sudden death (Full time 4-4, Penalty shoot out 3-3).
April 30 (Final): Hockey Odisha (Amit Chirmako 11th, Suman Kujur 18th, Suraj Minz 28th, 34th; Ashwin Kujur 58th, Krishna Tirkey 69th) beat Steel Plant Sports Board 6-0.
ODISHA TEAMS:
HOCKEY ODISHA: Riyadan Tudu (GK), Sahil Kumar Nayak (GK), Suraj Minz (Captain), Nitin Mukesh Tigga, Suman Kujur, Ashis Kumar Topno, Deepak John Kerketta, Cyril Lugun, Tikei Kujur, Suman Beck, Ashwin Kujur, Amit Chirmako, Sudhir Kujur, Pradeep Lakra, Krishna Tirkey, Sanjit Beck, Pravakar Minz, Tapan Surin. Manager: Pranab Kishore Pattanaik, Coach: Kalu Charan Choudhury.
HOCKEY GANGPUR-ODISHA: Bishal Minz, Pratap Lakra, Gregory Xess, Abhisek Lakra, Akash Kujur, Manoj Kindo, Binit Ekka, Dillip Lakra, Sibren Lakra, Sanjay Xalxo, Anand Ekka, Sushil Ekka, Manip Kerketta, Sudhir Ekka, Dilip Kumar Sa, Rasananda Khalkho, Biju Ekka, Amardeep Ekka. Manager-cum-coach: Bijay Kumar Lakra.
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PHOTO: Members of Hockey Odisha team lift the trophy in Bhopal on April 30, 2017.