Hockey players from Odisha who excelled at the Men’s Junior Asia Cup were honored and felicitated by Tusharkanti Behera, the Sports and Youth Services Minister of Odisha. Amandeep Lakra, Sudeep Chirmako, and Sunit Lakra, who hail from Sports Hostel Rourkela (Panposh), were recognized for their outstanding performances in the tournament, where India emerged as the champions for a record fifth time. Each player received a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh.
Minister Behera expressed his delight at the team’s triumph and conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the young hockey players. He commended Amandeep, Sudeep, and Sunit for bringing pride not only to Odisha but also to the entire nation with their exceptional performance in the Junior Men’s Asia Cup. He also highlighted their success as an inspiration for aspiring hockey players across the country and assured them of Odisha’s unwavering support.
During the tournament, the Indian team had an undefeated campaign and secured a 2-1 victory over Pakistan in the final. The Odisha players, Sudeep Chirmako, Amandeep Lakra, and Sunit Lakra, played in all six games for India, with Amandeep and Sunit impressing by scoring two goals each.
Expressing his thoughts on the historic achievement and the recognition received, Amandeep Lakra expressed his pride in bringing home the trophy. He expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment and stated his determination to work even harder to bring further glory to India and Odisha.
The gold medal victory in the Men’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 not only showcases the remarkable abilities of the Indian team ahead of the Men’s Junior World Cup later this year but also underscores the significant role played by Odisha as a key contributor to the Indian hockey ecosystem.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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