Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre (ONTHHPC) added another feather to its cap as the boys’ U-17 team emerged champions of the prestigious 54th Nehru Junior Hockey tournament on Thursday.
The boys from Odisha registered a thrilling 4-3 victory over NCC Lucknow in the final at Delhi’s Shivaji Stadium.
ONTHHPC displayed great teamwork and fighting spirit throughout the tournament to lift the crown after a gap of three years.
The team beat Govt Model Sr Sec. School, Sector 37-D, Chandigarh 4-2 in its opening group-stage encounter. In their next match, ONTHHPC notched up a similar 4-2 victory over Sonipat to secure a place in the semifinals.
In the knockout clash, ONTHHPC faced a strong challenge from Naval Tata Hockey Academy, Jamshedpur. The boys from Odisha rose to the occasion to register another 4-2 victory and book a berth in the title clash.
The final against NCC Lucknow was a closely-fought affair, and ONTHHPC sealed the triumph in a seven-goal contest.
Adding to the sheen, ONTHHPC’s Manesh Naik was adjudged Best Player of the Tournament.
“This championship victory is a proud moment for the entire ONTHHPC family. Winning the Nehru Junior Hockey Tournament after three years reflects the dedication, discipline and hard work of our young players, coaches and support staff. The boys have shown tremendous character throughout the competition, particularly in the final, where they held their nerve under pressure. Such achievements reinforce our commitment to nurturing young talent and providing them with the right platform to excel at the highest level,” said Captain Amitabh, CEO, Hockey Ace Foundation.
