Rourkela: The semifinalists of both the professional and rural categories of the Inter-City Gold Cup hockey tournament (IGHT) were identified here Thursday after the completion of the league stage. All the semifinals come off, Saturday.
In the professional category, ECoR will face SAIL Hockey Academy in a last four clash Bhubaneswar Sports Hostel-A will meet Rourkela Sports Hostel (Jr) in the other semifinal.
In the rural category, Barhadema and Thopaberna will meet Barpali and Rugditoli respectively for a place in the final.
On the last day of the league games, Bhubaneswar Sports Hostel-B and Sundargarh Sports Hostel defeated their respective opponents in the pro segment. However, the wins were of no use as both the teams failed to qualify for the semifinals.
Bhubaneswar Sports Hostel-B eked out a narrow 4-3 win over Sports Hostel, Rourkela (sub-jr) side. Dilip Lakra (12th minute), Arbin Kujur (44th), Ashish Topno (60th) and Sudeep Kerketta (70th) scored for the winning side while Dibesh Jojo (14th, 38th) and Subash Barla (29th) struck for the Rourkela colts.
In the last league game, Sports Hostel, Sundargarh thrashed Orissa Postal 5-1. Ashwini Kujur (37th, 49th) and Anand Ekka (48th, 53rd) scored two goals each while P Lakra (36th) struck once for the winning side. Suleman Lakra (54th) pulled one consolation goal back for Orissa Postal.
Rural format results: Jhagarpur bt Saunamara 5-4; Peruabhadi bt Samaleimunda 7-6; Rugditola bt Hamirpur 3-2; Barpali bt Jhunmur 3-1; Barhadema bt Jhirpani 4-1; Thopaberna bt Kukuda 1-0; Barpali bt Saunamara 8-7; Rugditola bt Peruabhadi 4-2.
Karatekas graded
One hundred and fifty-three students qualified in the Grading test at the Utkal Karate School in Bhubaneswar, Thursday. Five of these qualifiers, were honoured with black belts while the others were presented with different-coloured belts.
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