Defending champions Odisha crashed out from the preliminary stage of the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship (Division-A), losing both of their Poo-A legue matches at Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. Punjab sent Odisha packing with a 3-2 win today.

Earlier in their opening match Odisha lost to Madhya Pradesh 2-3 after leading 1-0. Madhya Pradesh and Punjab qualified for the quarterfinals from Pool-A, while Odisha finished third and last. Olympian Amit Rohidas led an 18-member Odisha team, which featured around eight senior or junior internationals.

ODISHA SENIOR MEN HOCKEY TEAM: Sunit Lakra, Amandeep Lakra, Ashis Kumar Topno, Amit Kumar Topno, Sanjeep Xess, Ajay Kumar Ekka, Prasad Kujur, Satish Kangadi, Rosan Kujur, Sushil Dhanwar, Amit Rohidas (Captain), Matiyas Dang, Dipsan Tirkey, Abhisek Lakra, Biju Ekka, Sahil Kumar Nayak (GK), Dilip Kumar Sa (GK), Shilanand Lakra.
Team Staff: Bijay Kumar Lakra (Head Coach), Aditya Mathur (Manager), Sushil Kumar Kiro (Assistant Coach), Bibhudutta Behera (Physiotherapist).

DETAILS OF ODISHA PERFORMANCE:

8 April 2025 (League match): Hockey Madhya Pradesh (Ali Ahmad 28-PC, 42-FG, Zaid Khan 32-FG) beat Hockey Association of Odisha (Amit Rohidas 17-PC, Nilam Sanjeep Xess 57-FG) 3-2.

9 April 2025 (League match): Hockey Punjab (Jugraj Singh 16-FG, Araijeet Singh Hundal 48-FG, Pardeep Singh 55-FG) beat Hockey Association of Odisha (Amit Rohidas 37-PC, Matiyas Dang 48-FG) 3-2.
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PHOTO: Players, support staff and officials of Odisha team pose at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar before leaving for Jhansi for the Senior Men National Hockey Championship.