By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 16, 2024: Odisha on Saturday finally won the 14^th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship title. The state has been associated with the growth of Indian hockey for a long time.

India international Shilanand Lakra slammed a hat-trick to hand Odisha the senior men’s National Hockey Championship, beating Haryana 5-1 in the final in Chennai on Saturday. Shilanand (48th, 57th, 60th minutes) scored three goals in a span of 12 minutes, while Rajat Akash Tirkey (11th) seized an early opportunity to give Odisha the lead, scoring from close range. Pratap Lakra (39th) then doubled the lead in the third quarter, converting a penalty stroke. In the fourth quarter, Shilanand rose to the occasion for Odisha. Haryana’s lone goal was scored by Joginder Singh (55th).

One of the stalwarts to have emerged from Odisha, former India captain and current Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey posted a congratulatory message on X: “The long wait is over. History is made by our Odisha men’s hockey team.” For Tirkey, it must have been an emotional moment to witness Odisha win its maiden gold medal in the senior National men’s hockey championship.

Naveen Patnaik, former Chief Minister of Odisha who has been involved with the sport for a long time, shared his appreciation on X. He posted, “Congratulate Odisha Hockey Team on lifting the maiden national title at the 14th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship in Chennai. May the team continue its superb performance and win laurels for the state. Best wishes.” Current CM Mohan Charan Majhi also shared, “Huge congratulations to the Odisha Hockey team on clinching their historic first-ever gold medal,” adding that it marked a major milestone for the state.