Sushil Ekka wins it for Town HS

Special Correspondent

Sushil Ekka struck twice, including the golden goal, as defending champion Town High School, Sundergarh, defeated Government Senior Secondary School, Ladowala, Jalandhar, 3-2 in the final of the 30th Nehru sub-junior hockey tournament at the Shivaji Stadium here on Sunday.

It was a unique experience for the under-15 boys to compete under the floodlights in pleasant weather, and they rose to the occasion in providing a quality fare, much to the delight of the sparse gathering.

The Orissa team looked better with its basics and more importantly operated with admirable coordination, to emerge a deserving winner. It was no surprise that the Orissa boys shot ahead in the 13th minute, following a fine reverse flick by Tekei Kujur after he got the ball from Sanjay Xalxo.

The Punjab lads equalised minutes before the halftime whistle, as Navjot Singh converted the team’s fourth penalty corner with a smart hit.

It was the Punjab team that took the lead in the seventh minute of the second half when Inderjit Singh sounded the board with a crisp shot from the right. Orissa responded with a goal a minute later, as Sushil Ekka capitalised on a rebound following an unsuccessful attempt by Sanjay Xalxo. Thereafter, the Punjab team withstood the Orissa attack to force extra time.

Orissa could have sealed the issue early but for Ashwin Kujur’s shot hitting the post in the first minute of extended play. But, Sushil Ekka capitalised on a ball rolling in his favour in front of the goal and pushed it in to clinch the crucial goal. Punjab failed to convert a penalty corner just before the hooter for the first half of extra time, as Inderjit Singh shot wide, and the Orissa boys made spontaneous somersaults on the turf to celebrate their victory.

For his two goals in the final and his overall efficiency through the tournament, Sushil Ekka was adjudged the ‘best player’ and presented Rs.5,000. Dilpreet Singh of the Punjab team was declared the ‘most promising player’ and presented Rs.5,000.

The champion team received Rs.96,000 and its coach S. J. Milton Bilung was given Rs.8,000. The runner-up received Rs.64,000 and its coach Gurdev Singh was given Rs.5,000.

Birsa Munda Vidyapitha, Rourkela, beat Baba Gurmukh Singh Uttam Singh Senior Secondary School, Khadoor Sahib, 3-1 in the match for the third place, and baged RS.32,000. The coach Bijay Kumar Lakra was presented Rs.3,000.

The results:

Final: Town High School, Sundergarh, Orissa, 3 (Sushi Ekka 2, Tekei Kujur) bt Government Senior Secondary School, Ladowala, Jalandhar, 2 (Navjot Singh, Inderjit Singh).

Third place: Birsa Munda Vidyapitha, Rourkela, Orissa, 3 (Rasanand Khalkho 2, Suren Lakra) bt Baba Gurmukh Singh Uttam Singh Senior Secndary School, Khadoor Sahib, 1 (Amanpreet Singh).