"We executed what was planned": Kalinga Lancers' goalie Krishnan after team's qualification to Hockey India League final
Bhubaneswar, January 24
Following the qualification to the final of the Hockey India League finals, Kalinga Lancers goalie Krishnan Bahadur Pathak expressed happiness at his team's performance, execution, and discipline.
Vedanta Kalinga Lancers booked their spot in the final of the Men's HIL, securing a 2-1 win against Ranchi Royals at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Friday.
Ranchi Royals will take on the Hyderabad Toofans in Qualifier 2 on Sunday for a spot in the final.
Following his side's win, Krishnan said to ANI, "We had been playing well, executed what we planned. First, the plan was to reach the playoffs and now the goal was to reach the final from this semi-final. The entire team maintained great discipline, following the coach's instructions on how to play. We will see which team reaches the final, and we will prepare accordingly."
Also, Dipsan Tirkey, defender for Kalinga Lancers, expressed how playing in Bhubaneswar is a unique experience.
"Playing matches in Bhubaneswar is a unique experience because of the crowd support... We would like to thank the Odisha government and Dilip Tirkey, because of whom this tournament is happening. We followed our plan with discipline, which is why the result was in our favour. We will prepare for the final by watching videos of our opponents, looking into their flaws and into our own mistakes," he said.
Also, Ranchi Royals and Indian stalwart Mandeep Singh, who scored the sole goal for Ranchi, lamented how his team failed to convert their chances into goals.
"They (Kalinga) converted their chances into goals whenever they got an opportunity. We could have defended a little better. Overall, the team performed very well. The next match is very important. The Toofans are a very good team. The focus will be on not repeating the mistakes we made today," he added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see the HIL back with such intensity. Both teams played well, but Kalinga's execution in the final third was the difference. Mandeep Singh's honesty about the missed chances is commendable.
Bhubaneswar crowd is the real 12th player! The atmosphere must have been electric. So proud of our boys. Hope this league continues to grow and produce more talent for the national team. 🇮🇳
A respectful criticism: The article could have given more insight into the tactical plan Krishnan mentioned. What exactly did they execute so well? Still, a solid win. The focus on video analysis for the final is very professional.
Heartbreak for Ranchi Royals. Mandeep is right, they created chances but the finishing was missing. Now all eyes on Qualifier 2. Hyderabad Toofans vs Ranchi will be a cracking game!
Credit where it's due - the Odisha government and Dilip Tirkey sir have revolutionized hockey infrastructure in India. This tournament is a gift to the sport. Kalinga Lancers, bring the cup home! 💪
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.