Bhubaneswar: Sundargarh and KIIT/KISS University will contest for the State Sub-Junior Men’s Hockey title.
In closely-fought semifinals of the Hockey Association of Odisha (HAO)-organized tournament on Thursday, Sundargarh overcame Dhenkanal 3-1 and home team KIIT/KISS University got the better of Deogarh 2-0.
In the quarterfinals a day earlier, Sundargarh walloped SMS Hockey Academy 7-0, KIIT/KISS edged past Sambalpur 3-2, Dhenkanal pipped Nayagarh 2-1 and Deogarh ousted Jharsuguda 2-1 via shootout.
Over 500 players from districts, academies and institutions participated in the state sub-junior championship, making it one of the most successful state-level hockey competitions to be organized in Odisha.
“We had two very closely-contested games and it was great to see our players playing such high-level of hockey in pressure situations. Competitions like these will surely give these young players a platform to showcase their talent and enable them to continue the history and legacy of the game going forward,” said HAO president Dilip Tirkey, who was recently elected as Hockey India chief.
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