India eyeing clean swipe against Japan
Bhubaneswar: Already having captured the four-match Test Series by 2-0, the India Men Hockey Team will be eyeing their third consecutive win against Japan in their fourth and final test match on Saturday at Kalinga Stadium here. India will be aiming at continuing with their attacking game with short-passes whereas Japan will be working harder on their finishing and materialising the opportunities in goals.
After playing three matches and getting positive results from all three matches, India is in a better position and are more confident to win the last match of the series. Senior player such as Captain Sardar Singh, VR Raghunath, Birendra lakra and Rupinder Pal Singh are leading from the front to implement strategies on the field. They have successfully set-up the game and even managing the younger players to play according to the strategies chalked out. Alongwith the presence of senior players, young players such as Manpreet Singh, Satbir Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and lalit Upadhyay are playing above their level and displaying their best hockey in front of the cheering crowd. Speaking after the Practice Session, India player VR Raghunath said: “We have been playing good hockey in this tournament and will continue to play in this way. Players are confident and in a good shape. Young players are doing a commendable job and they are taking responsibilities, which is good for the team. Penalty corner is a worry for us but we are working harder on that. Chief Coach Paul vas Ass is good in strategies and we are working on various game-plans. We are focussing on our implementations of the strategies and looking forward to win the last match.” Speaking at the Practice Session at Kalinga Stadium, Japan Coach Keonwook Kang stated: “We are playing good enough in the last few matches. Players are committing mistakes, which cost us the match. We are working harder on rectifying the mistakes and focussing more on strategies. Tomorrow, we will play harder to win the last match of the series.”
Manipur, Odisha win Nat’l women football
Bhubaneswar: Manipur and Odisha edged out Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh by 10-0 and 7-0 respectively in the inaugural day matches of the sub Junior National Girls Football Championship 2015 was held at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on Friday. In the inugural match played at Barabati Stadium played between Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, Manipur won the match by 10-0 goals. The goal scorer for Manipur were Y Thailand Devi 5(five) goals at 02, 28, 31, 55 &76 mins,Ph Sanathokpi Devi two(2) goals at 21 mins & 78 mins. Th Babysana two goals at 41 & 57 mins, W Kanchan Devi one goal at 45+2 mins. In the second Match played Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, Odisha won the match by 7-0 goals. The goal scorer for Odisha were Subhadra nayak one goal at 31 mins, Banya Kabiraj three goals at 53, 85 & 92 mins, Shanti Murmu one goal at 56 mins, A Kangadi one goal at 76 mins and Eva Panna one goal at 90+2 mins.
In the third match played between Jharkhand & Telengana, the match ended in 2-2 draw. S Kumari of Jharkhand scored two goals at 30 and 69 mins and Y Poojitha of Telengana scored two goals at 12 and 71 mins. This match was played at Satyabrata Stadium,Cuttack.
OCA and OOA secretary Asirbad Behera, MlA and FAO president Debashish Samantray were present as guests in the ceremony.
Rising to meet Saheed in Sumit Bose Cricket final
Bhubaneswar: Rising Student Club of Cuttack would meet Saheed Sporting Club of Bhubaneswar in the final of the Sumit Bose Memorial U-16 Cricket Tournament at Cuttack on Sunday. In the semifinal on Friday, batting first Pragati Sporting scored 117 runs in the 37.3 overs. Sd Aman Ali and Sandeep Chauhan of Saheed Sporting scalped three wickets each and restricted Pragati innings in a small total.
In reply, Jyoti Ranjan Behera scored 49 runs and his mate Sraban Bunga contributed an unbeaten 32 runs and the team reached the winning target in 31 overs for the loss of two wickets and the team entered the final. Ranji player Bikash Pati gave away the man of the match award to Sd Aman Ali for doing initial damage in the early part of Pragati sporting Innings.
Brief Score: Pragati Sporting 117/10 in 37.3 overs (Surup Mohapatra 28; Sandeep Chauhan 3/21, Sd Aman Ali 3/27) lost to Saheed Sporting 120/2 in 31 overs (Jyoti Ranjan Behera 49, Sraban Bunga 32 n.o; Pratyush Mohapatra 2/24) by 8 wickets.