Rourkela: Host Sambalpur University clinched the title in the All India Inter-University Men’s Hockey Championship with an impressive performance in the final.
In the title clash played at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Tuesday, Sambalpur University defeated Lovely Professional University (LPU), Jalandhar by 3–1 to lift the trophy.
This is the fourth time Sambalpur University has won the championship. The team had earlier emerged champions in 2009, 2012, and 2019.
Sambalpur dominated the final and secured a comfortable victory. The first goal came in the 7th minute when Sudip Minz converted a penalty stroke. Sudip scored again in the 18th minute through a penalty corner to double the lead. Mohan Krishna netted the third goal in the final minute of the match to seal the victory. LPU’s Suraj scored the lone goal for his team in the 57th minute.
Mohan Krishna of Sambalpur University was adjudged the Man of the Match.
In the third-place playoff, Jain University, Bengaluru, defeated MS University, Tamil Nadu, 7–6 in the tie-breaker after the match ended 3–3 in regulation time.
Rourkela MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest. Municipal College Principal Harihar Das, senior hockey coaches K C Choudhury and Raju Kant Saini, observer Pradeep Khalkho, and Dr Avinash Kar from Sambalpur University were among the dignitaries present.
