Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 24: It was a good day for the hockey colts of Orissa in the sub-junior men’s National Championships which concluded Sunday at New Delhi. In the final, the Hockey Orissa colts thrashed Hockey Haryana 4-1 to win the title. In the earlier third-fourth playoff match, Hockey Gangpur overcame Hockey Karnataka 5-3 to finish third.
In a fast-paced final which was dominated by Hockey Orissa players, the champions took the lead when Ashwin Kujur scored in the 10th minute capitalising on a defensive lapse on the part of the opposition. Four minutes later it was 2-0 as Sudhir Kujur scored after a solo burst down the middle. In the 27th minute, it looked all over for Haryana as Suman Beck scored the third goal for Orissa from a penalty stroke.
After the change of ends, Hockey Orissa players relaxed a little and taking advantage of this Haryana skipper Abhishek pulled one back. Not to be outdone, Orissa again started attacking with intent and their efforts bore fruit when Pradip Lakra scored a field goal with a minute left on the stopwatch.
In the other game fortunes swung like a pendulum. It was Hockey Karnataka who took the lead when Pavan Madiwalar struck in the sixth minute. But Karnataka’s joy was shortlived when Biraj Topno struck twice in quick succession. The first one was a field goal while the second was from a penalty corner.
After the change of ends, Hockey Gangpur consolidated their lead through Albert Tete (38th) and Mandeep Kerketta (44th). Even though Lakith MB got one back for Karnataka, the colts of Gangpur once against established their three-goal advantage when Biraj converted another penalty corner. Late in the game, even though Karnataka got one back, it was too late for them to script a recovery.
