Odisha and Haryana emerged victorious in the semifinals of the Hockey India-14th Senior National Championship, setting up a thrilling final on Saturday.
Odisha, boasting several players from the national junior and senior camps, dominated Manipur throughout the match. Shilanand Lakra, who recently returned to the Indian senior team after knee surgery, played a pivotal role, scoring a goal and assisting another.
Despite a competitive first half that ended 2-2, Odisha seized control in the fourth quarter. Prasad Kujjur tapped in a precise pass from Lakra, while Sudeep Chirmako unleashed a reverse flick to seal the victory.
Meanwhile, Haryana faced a spirited challenge from Uttar Pradesh. Leading 3-0, Haryana appeared to be cruising to victory. However, a yellow card to Pardeep Mor in the final 10 minutes gave UP hope. Arun Sahani and Manish Yadav scored penalty corners to bring UP within striking distance.
However, goalkeeper Pawan Malik produced several crucial saves to preserve Haryana’s lead. Raman, Abhimanyu, and Rajinder Singh had earlier scored for Haryana.
