How Hockey Odisha Delivered Statement-Making Performance with Maiden National Men’s Crown!
It is indeed ‘heartening’ for a state that has witnessed phenomenal growth in hockey infrastructure over the last ten years or so, to lay their hands on the winning trophy of the Senior Men Nationals at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai. Even as the focus was riveted on the likes of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, Hockey Odisha nonchalantly went about their business in the pool phase – they crushed Rajasthan 11-1, eased past Puducherry 6-2, and drubbed Arunachal 9-0, pumping in 26 goals in 3 matches.
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The Odisha outfit were given a real run for their money by Karnataka in the quarterfinal where both teams were locked 3-3 in regulation time before the Odisha lads had the last laugh in the shootout (3-1). Hockey Odisha did not exactly had it easy against Manipur in the semifinal – a side that turned out to be the surprise packet of the nationals but packed enough ammunition to win 4-2 to set up summit clash against Haryana. The final was a bit of a one-sided affair as Odisha made the short work of the two-time champions 5-1.
The growing hockey infrastructure in Odisha has also meant that players were afforded the desired training facilities and environment to put their best foot forward. “The beauty of this Odisha team is our deep bench strength. All eighteen players are very talented and even anyone is off the turf or substituted, there is no such challenge as I can count on all the boys to deliver,” says a chuffed Odisha coach Bijay Kumar Lakra in an exclusive chat with Hockey Passion.
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The Odisha side had had two international players in Shilanand Lakra and Nilam Sanjeev Xess as well as Indian junior players Amandeep Lakra and Sudeep Chirmako. The 58-year-old coach, who was bestowed with the 2024 Biju Patnaik Sports Award for Excellence in Coaching, says his team was all geared up for the final against Haryana. “We had watched videos of Haryana’s earlier games and knew what needed to be done. Our aim was to score an early goal and retain possession, and wait for the opposition to come hard at us, which would throw up open spaces for our forwardline to exploit,” he explains.
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Bijay, who is employed with Odisha Sports & Youth Services Department, accentuated the importance of playing as a team. “We told my boys when we had assembled in Rourkela for the 17-day training session that we have to play as a team. We trained with a clear focus on winning the nationals,” says the former fullback who played for Odisha in the nationals in the eighties.
A large chunk of the 18-member side belonged to Sundargarh district – the hockey hub of the state. “Sundargarh has a great craze for hockey – there are 10 Astroturfs in the district – one each in all 10 blocks. 15 players in my team are from the Sundargarh district, while the rest three are from Rourkela, Cuttack and Deogarh,” says Bijay bubbling with excitement.
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The team was well served by the likes of Amandeep Lakra, Sudeep Chirmako, Shilanand Lakra, Ajay Kumar Ekka, and Kerobin Lakra, who consistently rattled the opposition cage. One hopes that Odisha’s stellar run in the senior nationals would pave the way for state boys into the national camp and subsequently into the national side.
