Last year champions Jharkhand team retained the trophy of the 17th BSNL All India Annual Hockey Tournament in an exciting but one sided final match against Karnataka on Friday in Astro-turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi.
BSNL selected its national team on the basis of performance of players in the tournament in which nine players of winning team grabbed their place.
“It was a memorable tournament in terms of enhanced performance of players including those who couldn’t make their respective teams climb up to the top. Moreover, one other motto of promoting national game which is already in the blood of every other youth in the region remained successful,” said GM Ramashraya Prasad Singh after the tournament concluded.
Third and concluding day of the tournament started with NTR (Delhi) taking on their opponent Odisha in which latter left no chance for the former to even breathe with winning the match at score of 4:0 followed by final match between Jharkhand and Karnataka. Odisha and NTR (Delhi) bagged 3rd and 4th position in the tournament while Jammu and Kashmir had to remain contented with last position.
BSNL DDG JB Prasad, Jharkhand Circle CGM KK Thakur, former Olympians Manohar Topno and Sylvanus Dungdung who was also conferred with Major Dhyanchand Award last year, DG (Fire and Home Guards) BB Pradhan and many other guests and dignitaries were present to encourage players and enjoy during final match and award ceremony thereafter on the day.
Jharkhand team player Manoj Pradhan was awarded for maximum number of goals (4) during tournament, and his teammate Roshan Bhengra clinched Player of the Tournament award. Karnataka goalkeeper X-Fekix Elvin emerged as Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.