Debutant teams Hockey Gangpur-Odisha and Vidarbha Hockey Association started their campaign on a winning note in Division B of the 4th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship at Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Lucknow today.
In the opening match of the championship, Hockey Gangpur- Odisha defeated Puducherry 9-2, while Vidarbha Hockey Association registered a 2-1 win over Hockey Delhi.
For Hockey Gangpur-Odisha, Bruno Hedrino Lugun and Banamali Xess scored twice each, while Amarjeet Ekka, Kishor Lakra, Bikash Toppo, Roshan Minz and Ashish Anmol Minz hit the net once each.
Puducherry scored through N Sellamuthu and N Kamalakannan a goal each.
Bengal defeated Tripura 4-0 in another match of Pool-C.
In a Pool D match, Dalbir Singh scored two goals to help Vidarbha Hockey Association post a win.
In another Pool D match, Chhattisgarh played a 1-1 draw against debutants Central Reserve Police Force.
Chhattisgarh took a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute with a field goal from Sachin Rathaur but two minutes later Rohen Singh Thangjam scored a field goal for Central Reserve Police Force to level the scores.
Maharashtra overcame Kerala 8-0 in the other Pool D tie. Kunal Jagdale scored three goals followed by Rajendra Ekka (2), Navneet Swarnkar (1), Manpreet Singh (1) and Vinod Nimbore (1).
There are 22 teams participating in the Division B of the Championship.
