A six-goal blitzkrieg by drag-flicker Sushil Dhanwar and a 14-0 cake-walk win over Goans Hockey went in vain today as Odisha crashed out from the league stage of the 11th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship, which is underway at Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune from December 11.
Participating in the name of newly formed Hockey Association of Odisha (HAO), the State team failed to qualify for the quarterfinals as they finished second in Pool F with seven points from three matches. In their first two league matches, HAO thrashed Gujarat 8-0 and drew with Hockey Bengal 3-3.
Hockey Bengal qualified for the quarterfinals as the toppers of Pool F. They too finished with seven points, winning two matches and drawing one. But with a goal-difference of 27, against 22 by HAO, Hockey Bengal made it to the last-eight stage.
The 18-member HAO team was led by defender Abhisek Lakra, who represented India in the recent Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar. Kalu Charan Choudhury and Paulina Surin accompanied the team as coach and manager respectively. Quarterfinals are billed to take place on December 18, followed by semifinals on December 20 and the final on December 21.
Odisha team was selected by an Ad-hoc Committee, which is headed by Olympian and Odisha Hockey Promotion Council Chairman Dilip Tirkey. He also presented the jersey to the team.
Meanwhile, the status of HAO remained shrouded in mystery without any formal launching till date. However, Hockey India has already given affiliation to the new Odisha State hockey governing body as an associate member.
According to Hockey India website, HAO is headed by Olympian Dilip Tirkey with Sanatan Sahu as Secretary. An employee of the Department of Sports & Youth Services, Government of Odisha, Sahu is now functioning as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) after his retirement. Kalinga Stadium has been mentioned as the address of HAO.
ODISHA SENIOR MEN TEAM: Goalkeepers: G Tejeswar Rao, Dilip Kumar Sa. Defenders: Abhisek Lakra (Captain), Sushil Dhanwar, Satish Ekka. Mid-fielders: Deepak John Kerketta, Stanley Victor Minz, Prasad Kujur, Gregory Xess, Akash Kujur, Mangra Bhengra, Biju Ekka. Forwards: Prakash Barla, Sibran Lakra, Abhijeet Swain, Rahul Ekka, Ajaya Kumar Ekka, Patras Tirkey. Coach: Kalu Charan Choudhury, Manager: Paulina Surin, Physio: Sweta Atili, Trainer: Basant Kumar.
RESULTS:
December 12: Odisha (Sushil Dhanwar 17-PC, 26-PC, 36-PC; Prakash Barla 34-PC, 57-FG; Patras Tirkey 39-FG, 52-FG; Mangra Bhengra 48-FC) beat Gujarat 8-0.
December 13: Hockey Association of Odisha (Abhijeet Swain 12-FG, Sibren Lakra 15-FG, Rahul Ekka 28-FG) drew with Hockey Bengal (Raushan Kumar 32-FG, Nitish Neupane 46-FG, 53-PC) 3-3.
December 16: Hockey Association of Odisha (Sushil Dhanwar 5-PS, 6-PC, 9-PC, 12-PC, 12-PC, 45-PC; Mangra Bhengra 7-FG, 22-FG; Patras Tirkey 20-PC, Abhisek Lakra 28-PC, Prakash Barla 36-FG, Prasad Kujur 47-FG, Biju Ekka 58-FG, Ajay Kumar Ekka 60-FG) beat Goans Hockey 14-0.
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PHOTO: Odisha Senior Men Hockey Team with coach, manager, support staff and Olympian Dilip Tirkey in Bhubaneswar on 8 December 2021.