New Delhi: Defending Champions Punjab overcame Odisha 2-1 to lift the 3rd Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2013 played at Motil Lal Nehru Sports Complex, Rai in Sonepat on Thursday.
Punjab scored their opening goal through their skipper Gaganpreet Singh who converted the penalty corner in the 10th minute while Odisha leveled the score in the 24th minute with the field goal scored by Joseph Toppo.
In the second half, both the teams fought hard but finally Punjab’s Skipper Gaganpreet Singh managed to convert a penalty stroke in the 63rd minute.
Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy defeated The Hockey Maharashtra to finish third in the championship.
Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy scored through Mohd Nizamuddin (19, 28 min), Arjun Sharma (26, 69 min) and Arman Qureshi (42 min) while Ashutosh Lingesh (9 min), Own Goal (30 min) and Mithlesh Kumar (60, 63 min) were on target for The Hockey Maharashtra.
The Chief Minister of Haryana Sh. Bhupinder Singh Hooda was chief guest during the final match.
Results
Final- Punjab 2 (Gaganpreet Singh 10, 63) beat Odisha 1 (Joseph Toppo 24)
3rd/ 4th Position- Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy 5(Mohd Nizamuddin 19, 28, Arjun Sharma 26, 69, Arman Qureshi 42) beat The Hockey Maharashtra 4 (Ashutosh Lingesh 9, Own Goal 30, Mithlesh Kumar 60, 63)