The 2nd Hockey India Junior Men & Women East Zone Championship 2024 concluded with a captivating exhibition of talent and skills from the young hockey players. Held at the Netaji Subhas Eastern Centre in Salt Lake, the event saw the Hockey Association of Odisha and Hockey Jharkhand emerging as the champions in the Men’s and Women’s categories, respectively.
In the Women’s category final, Hockey Jharkhand secured a thrilling victory over Hockey Bengal in a shootout, with a final score of 1-1 (4-3 SO). The game was an intense battle, with Mundu Sukarmani of Hockey Jharkhand scoring in the 32nd minute and Lalpeksangi of Hockey Bengal equalising just two minutes later. The deadlock led to a shootout, where Hockey Jharkhand ultimately prevailed, claiming the title.
The 3rd/4th Place match in the Women’s category saw the Hockey Association of Odisha edging out Manipur Hockey in another gripping shootout, after the regulation time ended goalless. With both teams scoring twice, the match went into sudden death, where the players from Odisha held their nerve and emerged victorious.
Moving on to the Men’s category, the final match witnessed a powerful performance from Hockey Association of Odisha, as they secured a 2-0 victory over Hockey Jharkhand. Aryan Xess and Deonath Nanwar found the back of the net for Odisha in the second quarter, and they successfully defended their lead to clinch the championship.
In the 3rd/4th Place match for the Men’s category, Manipur Hockey showcased their prowess with a 7-2 win over Hockey Bihar. Thokchom Thonglen, Ningombam Amarjit Singh, Captain Silheiba Lisham, Ricky Tonjam, and Khangembam Somikant Singh all contributed to Manipur’s impressive victory, while Aakash Yadav and Atit Kumar scored for Hockey Bihar.
The tournament provided a platform for young and talented hockey players to showcase their abilities and compete at a high level, and the teams from Odisha and Jharkhand demonstrated their strength and determination to emerge as the deserving champions in their respective categories.
It is inspiring to witness the passion and commitment of these young athletes, and their performances in the championship are a testament to the bright future of Indian hockey. Congratulations to Hockey Association of Odisha and Hockey Jharkhand for their remarkable achievements in the tournament.