In order to improve the domestic structure of the sport, Hockey India organized the first ever Zonal Championships at junior level in March 2023. The 1st Hockey India Junior East Zone Championship 2023 took place in Ranchi, Jharkhand from 19th March to 26th March 2023. Similarly, other zonal championships were held across the country – Ramanthapuram (South Zone), Jhansi (North Zone) and Rajnandgaon (West Zone) during the same week.
7 HPC boys and 9 girls represented India’s Best Kept Secret – Odisha at the inaugural tournament in Ranchi. 6 teams took part in the women’s tournament – Odisha, Bengal, Mizoram, Assam, Jharkhand and Bihar while Mizoram did not register a men’s team, making it only 5 states in the men’s section.
The Odisha Men’s Junior team started the tournament with commanding wins against Assam, Bihar and Bengal, scoring 31 goals and conceding 0. In their final round-robin game, they fell short to Jharkhand, losing 3-1. Odisha’s second place finish in the pool stage sent them to the final where they faced the hosts again. Sadly, the team experienced a deja-vu, losing 3-1 and settling for silver.
HPC cadet Anmol Ekka bagged the most goals during the tournament converting 12 penalty corners. Aryan Xess and Sanjit Tirkey also contributed with 6 and 3 goals respectively.
Odisha’s Junior Women’s team on the other hand missed out on qualifying for the final after their goal-difference of 36 was one short of Mizoram and two short of table toppers Jharkhand. Odisha’s only loss in the tournament came against Mizoram in the pool-stage where they lost 2-1. This loss proved costly as Mizoram would later go on to make the final due to a higher goal difference. In the bronze medal match, Odisha faced Bihar and annihilated them with a score-line of 10-0. HPC cadets Supriya Kujur and Munmuni Das had fun in front of goal as both of them scored 12 and 10 goals respectively.
While the tournament left the two Odisha teams wanting for more, they gained invaluable experience. The Zonal Championships organised by Hockey India are a great way to increase the number of matches and tournaments played at Junior level.
Odisha and HPC’s focus now shifts to the Hockey India Sub-Junior Nationals to be held in Rourkela in May. HPC coaches will be leading both the men’s and the women’s state teams. The Women’s tournament begins from 4th May followed by the Men’s tournament after it’s conclusion.
