PANAJI
Odisha, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh notched up big wins on Day 1 of the 12th Sub-Junior National Hockey Championship at Peddem Sports Complex, Mapusa, on Wednesday.
Odisha kicked off their campaign in style with a thumping 14-0 victory against Kerala. Sanjit Tirkey opened Odisha's account in the first quarter before they slammed three goals in the second quarter. The team from Odisha toyed with their opponents as Irengbam Singh and Aryan Xess scored hat-tricks. Odisha pumped in 10 goals in the last two quarters as Kerala defence crumbled.
Later in the day, Hockey Bihar produced an even bigger win, thrashing Telangana Hockey 18-0 while Hockey Arunachal defeated Hockey Jammu and Kashmir 6-2. The first half saw a balanced play from either side as a goal by Arunachal’s Sahajpreet Singh in the 12th minute was cancelled by J&K’s Rajveer Singh in the 16th minute. In the 2nd quarter, Arunachal netted two goals but J&K managed to pull one back. The 3rd and 4th quarters went in Arunachal’s favour where they managed to score three more goals through Anil Balihar’s brace and a goal by Sachin to win the match 6-2.
In another match, Hockey Andhra Pradesh thrashed Hockey Mizoram 13-0.Later in the day, chief guest, Puneet Goel, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Goa inaugurated the tournament along with Sports Secretary, Ajit Roy, President Goans Hockey, Xavier Marquis, Vice President Goans Hockey, Farell Furtado and Secretary, Benny Viegas.
Joaquim Carvalho, Merwyn Fernandes, Darryl Dsouza, Clarence Lobo, Selma D’Silva, Eliza Nelson Britto and Loretta Fernandes were among the six former Olympic players from Goa, who were felicitated on the occasion.
