Hockey Association of Odisha (HAO) secured a decisive 6-1 win against Hockey Chandigarh to solidify their position atop their pool and guarantee a spot in the quarter-finals of the 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2024.
In the quarter-finals, Hockey Association of Odisha will face the experienced Hockey Haryana.
Speaking on the team’s approach in this tournament, head coach Sujit Lakra said, “For us, our focus will be on execution. Yes, Haryana is a very strong team, and they have a strong core of Indian women’s hockey team players. But that does not matter on the match day. Our objective is to stick to our roles and execute what we have learnt in practice. My message to the players is not to overthink and take pride in representing Odisha.
Hockey Association of Odisha features three Indian women’s hockey team players in the squad including Mariana Kujur, Ajmina Kujur and Jyoti Chhatri. On their impact, the head coach said, “They have a big impact in the team, not only do they motivate the other players, but they bring with them the experience of high-pressure situations. They also have had more exposure to players from other states and can help the team tactically as well.”