Odisha drub hapless Patiala, face Mumbai in semifinals

Pratap Lakra, Abhishek Lakra and Sudeep Kerketta scored two goals each as Odisha drubbed Patiala 7-0 in their Pool D encounter of the Hockey India Junior Men’s National Hockey (B Division) Championship here on Friday. 

Odisha also entered the semifinals and will play Mumbai for a place in the final on Saturday. 

Pratap, opened the account for Odisha (10th) and Abhishek doubled the lead in the 27th minute. In the second half, Sanja Xalxo, continued Odisha’s domination by scoring a goal in the 40th minute and Pratap added one more to the team’s tally 12 minutes later to make it 4-0. Abhishek then netted one goal in the 66th minute and Sudeep Kerketta (67th, 68th) then scored a brace and gave the winners a 7-0 lead. 

In a Pool C game, Resbin (37th, 39th, 57th) scored a treble to power Kerala to a 4-0 victory over Madhya Pradesh. Sarang (40th), was the other goal scorer for the winners. 

In another Pool D encounter, Chandigarh scripted a big 9-1 win over Assam.  Chandigarh rode on a treble from Gurusewak Singh (31st, 64th, 67th). 

Sharanjith Singh was the other star performer scoring a brace (24th, 34th). Assam’s only goal came in the 51st minute through Rajesh Boro in the 51st minute. 

In the second semfinal on Saturday, Pudhucherry will take on Bengal.

Results: Pool C: Kerala: 4 (Resbin 37th, 39th, 57th, Sarang 40th) bt Madhya Pradesh: 0. 

Pool D: Odisha: 7 (Pratap Lakra 10th, 52nd, Abhishek Lakra 27th, 66th, Sanjay Xalxo 40th, Sudeep Kerketta 67th, 68th) bt Patiala: 0. 

Chandigarh: 9 (Raj Kumar 19th, Sharanjit Singh 24th, 34th, Gurusewak Singh 31st, 64th, 67th, Harikrat Singh 41st, 59th, Gursewak Singh K 57th) bt Assam: 1 (Rajesh Boro 51st).