PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Aug 30: The ‘Sixth Senior Jharkhand State Hockey Championship 2023’ (Men & Women) came to an exhilarating close here last evening, with a day full of intense competition and remarkable displays of skill.
On the final day of the championship, matches enthralled the audiences while winners showcased their prowess on the field.
In the much-anticipated Men’s finals, Eklavya Academy clinched the title with a 3-0 thrilling shootout beating Naval Tata Hockey Academy (NTHA).
The match ended in a draw of 2-2 in the main time. The goal scorers for NTHA included Simon and Jaymashi, while for Eklavya Academy the goal scorers were Denis Kerketta and Noyel Toppo.
The first match of the day was for the third and fourth position between Railways and Ranchi. In an impressive showdown, Ranchi emerged victorious with a score of 2-1. The goal scorers included Sandeep Toppo and Joseph Kongari for Ranchi, and Sunil Ekka for Railways.
In another match, an electrifying encounter unfolded between Ranchi and Gumla Womens’ (for third and fourth position), culminating in a draw. However, Ranchi clinched victory in the shootout round, securing a 3-0 win.
The Women’s finals saw a spirited match between Eklavya Academy and Khunti. Eklavya Academy emerged triumphant with a resounding score of 8-0.
Joseph Topno of the Eklavya team was rightfully crowned the best player of the tournament in the Men’s category, while Albela Rani Toppo of the Eklavya team was bestowed with the same honour in the Women’s category.
The event was attended by dignitaries including chief guest Sushant Gaurav, IAS, director of sports along with Bholanath Singh, general secretary, Hockey India and president, Hockey Jharkhand.
