Odisha, a state deeply intertwined with Indian hockey’s legacy, has achieved a historic milestone by winning the Hockey India Senior Men’s National Championship for the first time. The team triumphed over Haryana with an emphatic 5-1 victory in the final held in Chennai on Saturday.
India international Shilanand Lakra delivered a stellar performance, scoring a hat-trick in the fourth quarter (48th, 57th, and 60th minutes). Rajat Akash Tirkey opened the scoring in the 11th minute, and Pratap Lakra doubled the lead with a penalty stroke in the third quarter. Haryana’s lone goal came from Joginder Singh in the 55th minute.
Former India captain and Hockey India president expressed his pride in a message on X, stating, “The long wait is over. History is made by our Odisha men’s hockey team.”
Naveen Patnaik, former Chief Minister of Odisha and a long-time supporter of the sport, congratulated the team, posting, “Congratulate Odisha Hockey Team on lifting the maiden national title at the 14th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship in Chennai. May the team continue its superb performance and win laurels for the state. Best wishes.”
Current Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also celebrated the achievement, describing it as a significant milestone for Odisha hockey, saying, “Huge congratulations to the Odisha Hockey team on clinching their historic first-ever gold medal.”
The victory marks a monumental moment in Odisha’s sporting history, cementing its status as a powerhouse in Indian hockey.
