ROURKELA: The 21st Sub junior Girls National Hockey Championship began here on Sunday (24th August) with poorly arranged inaugural function and a melodramatic scene created by the W.Bengal hockey officials. The organizers, Orissa Women Hockey Association, looked woefully short of men power in arranging the show. It seemed as if their duty is over by just bringing the championship to the state and they left rest of the things to be done by other people. There was no person to coordinate with the media. The media persons were left to collect the information by themselves. The teams who arrived here also seemed unhappy with the lodging and food arrangements.
Though officials of different state teams were not vocal in complaining but their body language was expressing their inner feeling. But Mumbai team official did not hide their resentment and openly shouting at the organizers for their poor accommodation arrangements. W.Bengal team, who were declared defaulters by the IWHF and had not been invited to participate in the championship as officials claims, created a scene at the inaugural function. Their secretary Surbhi Mitra arrived at Rourkela with Bengal team on 23rd August and pleading with the organizers to allow them to play in the championship. At the inaugural function Bengal secretary was seen pleading, cajoling, arguing with Ranjit Gill assistant secretary, IWHF, to allow the Bengal team to play in the championship. Bengal secretary even assuring them that they would clear their dues as early as possible.
But Ranjit Gill refused to entertain them. Ranjit Gill told the media persons that executive body of IWHF has taken this decision to bar the Bengal team from participating in all national championship until they clear their dues. So she cannot over rule this decision. Only executive body can take decision in this matter.
Five matches were played on the inaugural day. Three matches were played at the Biju Patnaik Hockey stadium while two matches were played at the sports hostel ground, Panposh. In spite of the personal efforts by the media persons the details of the matches played at the Biju Patnaik stadium could not be collected.
The results of the matches are:
Group-E:- UP defeated Vidarbha 10-0.
Group F:- MP defeated Rajasthan 13-0
Group B:- Delhi defeated Kerala 4-0
One match of group G between Andhra Pradesh and Himchal Pradesh could not be played because the officials of Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium (this stadium belongs to Rourkela Steel Plant) refused to allow more than three matches at the stadium.
Results of matches at Panposh ground
Group G:- Chhatisgarh defeated Gujrat 16-0
Hira Sinha (4) and Pooja Singh (5) notched up hat tricks in this match. Loveleen (2), Renuka (2) Poonam (1), Varsha (1) Basanti (1) were the other scorers of the match.
Host Orissa , in group D, beat Mizoram 5-0. The mercurial forward Anupa Barla scored four goals including a hat trick for the winners. She scored her goals in 10th, 25th, 40th and 46th minutes. Lilima Minz scored the other one goal in 20th minute of the play.
Mr.Susheel Kumar Das, Additional District Magistrate, Roukela was the chief guest at the inaugural function. Mr.Salil Kumar Patniak, District Public Relations Officer, Rourkela and Mr.Ashok Kumar Suri, GM, Ferro Nigam Limited were the guest of hounrs. Ms.Frida Topno, former MP and President of Orissa Women Hockey Association, former national skipper Jyoti Sunita Kullu were present at the function.