Odisha Clinches Senior Men’s National Hockey Championship Title with 5-1 Victory Over Haryana in the final

Chennai: Odisha triumphed in the Senior Men’s National Hockey Championship, securing a dominant 5-1 win over Haryana in the final on Saturday. The match witnessed a stellar performance from India international Shilanand Lakra, who netted a remarkable hat-trick, scoring in the 48th, 57th, and 60th minutes, all within a span of just 12 minutes.

Odisha took an early lead when Rajat Akash Tirkey (11th minute) found the net with a close-range finish. The lead was doubled in the third quarter through Pratap Lakra, who converted a penalty stroke in the 39th minute.

Haryana tried to mount a comeback, with Joginder Singh scoring their only goal in the 55th minute. However, Shilanand’s quick-fire hat-trick sealed the win for Odisha, who emerged as the undisputed champions of the tournament. The win marks another significant achievement for Odisha in Indian hockey.