BHUBANESWAR 28-Jan-2018
Hockey Odisha emerged champions in the 8th Sub-junior Men Hockey Championship (Division-A), getting the better of host Uttar Pradesh Hockey 2-1 in the final at Saifai, Itawah today. The win was a sweet revenge for Hockehy Odisha, who had lost to Uttar Pradesh Hockey 2-3 earlier in their Pool-D match.
Hockey Odisha, in fact, regained the sub-junior men national title after a gap of two years. Overall, this was the sixth title triumph for Hockey Odisha sub-junior men, who were champions for five years in a row from 2011 to 2015.
Earlier in the semifinals, Hockey Odisha prevailed over Hockey Gangpur-Odisha 1-0, while Uttar Pradesh Hockey decimated Hockey Haryana 6-1. The two Odisha teams registered contrasting wins in the quarterfinals. Hockey Odisha beat Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy 1-0 and Hockey Gangpur-Odisha blanked Hockey Chandigarh 3-0. Hockey Gangpur-Odisha finished fourth in the championship, losing to Hockey Haryana 1-2.
Led by Sunit Lakra, Hockey Odisha qualified for the quarterfinals with three wins and a loss. Hockey Gangpur-Odisha, reached the last-eight stage under the captainship of Sudeep Chirmako, finishing second in Poo A with two wins, one draw and one defeat.
ODISHA TEAMS:
HOCKEY ODISHA: Laban Lugun, Liban Ekka, Sunil Jojo, Bikash Kujur, Sushant Toppo, Subash Barla, Matiyas Dang, Paulus Lakra, Sunit Lakra (captain), Niranjan Kindo, Rohit Beck, George Tirkey, Patras Bhengra, Aman Tirkey, Prayas Soni (GK), Sumit Toppo, Binod Kispotta.
