Ram's hat-trick hands UP winning start in hockey nationals

Diwakar Ram slammed a hat-trick to help hosts Uttar Pradesh register an easy 5-2 win over Odisha in the opening day of Division A matches of the fourth Hockey India Senior Men National Championship at Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium, here today.
Uttar Pradesh dominated the first half of the Pool C game and took a 2-0 lead through a field goal by Amir Khan (10th minute) and penalty corner strike from Diwakar Ram (33rd).
Uttar Pradesh continued its dominance in the second half extended its lead in the 44th minute through Ajit Pandey.
Odisha tried to forge a comeback when Amon Mirash Tirkey pulled one back in the 48th minute to make the scoreline 3-1.

But Uttar Pradesh proved too strong for Odisha as Ram scored two more goals in the 54th and 64th minutes to seal the match in his side's favour.
Odisha, in between, managed to score another goal through Joseph Toppo (61st).

Earlier in the day, Jharkhand beat Hockey Bhopal 3-0 in Pool C.
Birshu Bhengra (57th, 63rd, 68th) scored a hat-trick for Jharkhand.
In another match, Food Corporation of India (FCI) failed lost 0-3 to Railways in a Pool D match.
Railways all three goals came via penalty corner conversions from the sticks of Amit Rohidas (35th, 54th) and M G Poonacha (23rd).

Today's Results:
Pool C: Uttar Pradesh 5 Diwakar Ram (33rd, 54th, 64th); Amir Khan (10th); Ajit Pandey (44th) vs Hockey Odisha 2 Amon Mirash Tirkey (48th); Joseph Toppo (61st).
Pool C: Jharkhand 3 Birshu Bhengra (57th, 63rd, 68th) vs Hockey Bhopal 0.
Pool D: Railways Amit Rohidas (35th, 54th) M G Poonacha (23rd) vs Food Corporation of India 0.