Bhubaneswar: Dhenkanal claimed the first Championship title of the Hockey Association of Odisha Sub-Junior Women Hockey Championships 2022 by beating Sundargarh 6-0 in the final match.
KIIT/KISS won the bronze medal by beating Deogarh 4-3 in a shootout in the 3rd/4th place match.
The tournament saw the participation of players from 22 districts across Odisha and two institutions and academies which is unprecedented in Odisha Hockey History.
The final day also saw the distribution of some individual awards.
- Best Goalkeeper – Anjali Munda, KIIT & KISS University
- Best Defender – Salima Lakra, Deogarh
- Best Mid-Fielder – Premsila Bage, Sundargarh
- Best Forward – Karuna Minz, Dhenkanal
- Player of the Tournament – Tanuja Toppo, Dhenkanal
Speaking on the Finals result, President of Hockey Association of Odisha and Chairman of Hockey Promotion Council, Dilip Tirkey said, “Congratulations to Dhenkanal for becoming the first champions of the Hockey Association of Odisha Sub-Junior Women Hockey Championships. I hope that their performance can inspire many young players to improve their game and continue to keep Odisha at the top of hockey in India. I am grateful to all districts for actively taking up the initiative and making sure that so many teams participate in the tournament. I have no doubt that Hockey’s future is truly bright going forward.”
“I would like to thank the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha for their support and guidance without which this tournament would not have been possible. I would also like to like Achyutha Samanta, MP, Founder, KIIT University for being such a gracious host and for providing the best facilities for the comfortable stay of the players during the tournament. It is the support of such stakeholders that has enabled the Hockey Association of Odisha to conduct one of the best State Level tournaments in hockey to date.”
The selected players from the tournament will be called for a State Hockey Camp that would make up the Odisha State team competing in the Hockey India National Championships.
Guests for the finals included Sunita Lakra, Olympian, Lilima Minz, Olympian, Shubhranshu Mishra, Joint Secretary, Sports and Youth Services Department, Kailash Chandra Das, Joint Secretary, Sports and Youth Services Department, Sailendra Kumar Jena, Joint Secretary to Government, Dr Gaganendu Dash, Director General, Sports & School of Yoga, KIIT/KISS University.
