Bhubaneswar: Odisha women hockey players created history as they emerged national champion on Tuesday.
In the final of 12th Hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship being played in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha team defeated Karnataka 2-0.
Odisha had entered the final of the championship after thrashing Jharkhand 5-o in the semifinal match on Monday. Karnataka beat Haryana 2-o in the other semifinal encounter.
The final match was a close contest as both Karnataka and the Odisha women created several opportunities but missed to score goals. Both sides went to halftime without goals.
In the third quarter of the match, Odisha’s Punam Barla opened the score by converting a goal. With a goal on the board in its favour, Odisha players scaled up their paly and put constant pressure on Karnataka. Ashim Kanchan Barla sealed the game with a late goal enabling Odisha to claim the Championship.
Speaking to the media after the match, head coach of Odisha team Edgar Joseph Mascarenhas said Karnataka was a tough team for which the girls kept up the pressure from the beginning. “Though we missed a couple of chances early in the game, we kept the ball in possession most of the time. Besides, we dominated the ball in midfield and scored a goal with the first opportunity in the third quarter. The second goal was a clincher for the game,” he said.
Odisha Sports has congratulated the team on winning the championship on a tweet. “Odisha Women’s Team wins its first-ever gold in Senior Nationals as they beat Karnataka 2-0 in the final of the 12th HI Senior Women National Championship. You have made us proud, girls!”, it said.
