Hockey Gangpur-Odisha finished fourth in the 5th Senior Men National Hockey Championship (Division- A) when they lost to Air India Sports Promotion Board 3-5 at Pune today. For Air India, Sameer Das scored a brace, while Vikram Pillay, Arman Qureshi and Gaganpreet Singh sounded the board once each.
Pratap Lakra converted two penalty strokes for the Gangpur-Odisha side and their captain Roshan Minz scored a field goal. It was a creditable achievement for the Gangpur Odisha team, who were making debut in the championship.
Riding on a treble by Odisha defender Amit Rohidas, Railway Sports Promotion Board beat Uttar Pradesh 5-3 in the final to emerge champions in the top-most domestic tournament. Showing all-round efficiency, Rohidas drew first blood with a penalty stroke in the ninth minute, followed it with a field goal in 21st minute and capped his individual brilliance, converting a penalty corner in the 29th minute. He was adjudged the best defender of the championship.
Hockey Gangpur-Odisha`s fine run in the championship came to an end when they were blanked 3-0 by Uttar Pradesh in the second semifinal match. Competing in Division-A for the first time, Gangpur-Odisha earlier won three matches and drew one in Pool B to qualify for the semifinals.
They beat Association of India Universities 3-2, Hockey Jharkhand 4-2, Hockey Bhopal 5-2 bute were held to a 3-3 draw by Comptroller and Auditor General of Indiai.
GANGPUR-ODISHA TEAM: Dinesh Ekka, Jajati Tripathy, William Xalxo, Amardeep Ekka, Banamali Xess, Bikash Toppo, Roshan Minz, Saroj Barla, Pratap Lakra, Jerom Lakra, Sanjay Surin, Mangal Kispotta, Rajen Ekka, Wilson Minz, Deepak Lakra, Sanjay Xalxo, Rasananda Khalkho, Amulya Minz.
RESULTS:
April 19: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Amulya Minz 43rd, Rasananda Khalkho 51st, Deepak Lakra 57th) beat Association of Indian Universities (Manpreet Singh 25th, Jatin Singh 52nd) 3-2.
April 21: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Roshan Minz 2-FG, 53-PC; Wilson Minz 10-FG, Bikash Toppo 57-FG) beat Hockey Jharkhand (Chandrashekhar Xalxo 15-PC, 20-PC) 4-2.
April 22: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Pratap Lakra 4-PC, 42-PC; Amardeep Ekka 29-FG, Deepak Lakra 43-FG, Roshan Minz 55-FG) beat Hockey Bhopal (Aftab Khan 26-PC, Mobin Ur Rahman 45-PC) 5-2.
April 24: Comptroller & Auditor General of India (Deepanshu Bhargav 21-FG, D S Darshan 35-PC, Nitin Timmaiah 58-FG) drew with Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Roshan Minz 12-FG, 34-FG, Sanjay Xalxo 53-FG) 3-3.
April 26 (SF): Railway (Sunil Yadav 7-PC, 32-PC, 44-th) beat Hockey Gangpur-Odisha 3-0.
April 28 (For 3rd Place): Air India (Sameer Dad 5-FG, 17-FG; Vikram Pillay 8-FG, Arman Qureshi 49-FG, Gaganpreet Singh 56-PC) beat Hockey Gangpur-Odisha (Roshan Minz 15-FG, Pratap Lakra 3-PS, 58-PS) 5-3.
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PHOTO: Hockey Gangpur-Odisha captain Roshan Minz (Yellow jersey) in action against Indian Universities in Pune on April 19, 2015.