Shilanand Lakra's Hat-Trick Leads Odisha to National Hockey Glory

Shilanand Lakra's sensational hat-trick secured Odisha's victory over Haryana in the senior men's National Hockey Championship final. A stellar performance in the final quarter culminated in a 5-1 win. Uttar Pradesh claimed third place by defeating Manipur 2-1, with Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Rajkumar Pal scoring decisive goals.

In a thrilling display of skill and agility, India international Shilanand Lakra netted a hat-trick to propel Odisha to victory in the senior men's National Hockey Championship. The team triumphed over Haryana with a decisive 5-1 win in the final held on Saturday.

The match saw Rajat Akash Tirkey seize an early advantage for Odisha in the 11th minute. Pratap Lakra doubled the lead by converting a penalty stroke in the third quarter. Shilanand stole the spotlight with three back-to-back goals in the game's final stages, nullifying a lone goal from Haryana's Joginder Singh.

In another match, Uttar Pradesh edged past Manipur 2-1 to secure third place. Led by captain Lalit Kumar Upadhyay's early goal, the team held firm despite Manipur's equalizer. Rajkumar Pal's strategic gameplay sealed the win in the 54th minute.

(With inputs from agencies.)