Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated Team Odisha after its impressive victory in the 16th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship.
Hockey Association of Odisha defeated Madhya Pradesh 2-1 in the final in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The win secured the 16th national championship title for the Odisha team.
Odisha made a strong start to the match. Mandeep Kerketta scored in the second minute to give his team an early lead.
Madhya Pradesh fought back in the second half. Sohil Ali scored in the 37th minute to make it 1-1.
The match remained closely contested. Odisha captain Deepak Pradhan restored his team’s lead in the 45th minute.
Madhya Pradesh pushed hard in the final stages. However, Odisha’s defence stood firm and protected the narrow lead until the final whistle.
Majhi praised the players for their talent, determination and fighting spirit. He described the victory as a proud moment for Odisha and congratulated the entire team for its achievement.