Ignominious exit: Odisha men’s hockey team failed to retain title, relegated to lower group- Exclusive

Odisha men's hockey: It's unfortunate but true. Odisha's domestic hockey is in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and needs immediate oxygen to improve its performance graph at the national level.

Odisha's men team failed to defend their title at the just concluded 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship that concluded in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.

What was more agonising was that the team finished 11th and were relegated to the lower group.

"We missed goal scoring opportunities inside the circle," the state hockey coach revealed for the poor show in Jhansi. According to Hockey India rules, the last two teams of Division A will move to the lower group, while the top two teams of Division B will move up to level A.

Odisha was in Division A and in the next edition of national competition will compete in Division B. Punjab beat Madhya Pradesh 4-1 to win gold at the Jhansi national competition, while Uttar Pradesh outplayed Manipur 5-1 to win third place.

Odisha has been hub of international hockey in the country for more than a decade now. Despite the state government pumping huge amounts of funds to promote international hockey, the local hockey is crying for attention. Odisha state also supports national hockey teams.

At the helm of the state hockey unit is Olympian and former skipper of the Indian team, Dilip Tirkey. Tirkey is also president of Hockey India-the national governing body of hockey in India. Close on the heels of Odisha's senior women's hockey team failing to go beyond quarterfinals in the national competition held in Panchkula, Haryana, the onus was on the state men's team to raise the bar.

The chief men's hockey coach Bijay Kumar Lakra wasn't available for his comments on the poor show in Jhansi. While assistant coach Sushil Kiro said, injury to drag flicker Amandeep Lakra in the opening match against Punjab, was a big setback. Odisha lost to Punjab that eventually won the gold medal.

"We missed several scoring chances against Madhya Pradesh in the second match of the tournament," the assistant hockey coach added. "Preparation was good but the players failed to deliver the goods at the right time."

Even Odisha's junior team couldn't go past the semi-finals at the national level this year. Hinting that Odisha needs to improve its bench strength.

"We need to build up and prepare for the next edition from now," Kiro added. "The top players should play more domestic competition to improve finishing skills inside the striking circle."