Rourkela, 03/01/2025: In a fiercely competitive start to the Hockey India League, UP Rudras made their mark with a 3-0 victory over Soorma Hockey Club in Rourkela. This dominant performance not only secured their second consecutive win but also handed Soorma the league’s first three-goal defeat, underscoring Rudras’ clinical execution on the field.
UP Rudras’ attack was led by Sudeep Chirmako (2’), Jobanpreet Singh (38’), and Akashdeep Singh (58’), with captain Hardik Singh controlling the game from midfield. Chirmako, a talented local player from Odisha and a two-time Junior World Cup participant, shone with a goal and an assist. His first goal came after a smart setup by Sunil Jojo, where Chirmako’s quick reaction and powerful shot beat Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch. He later showed great awareness by setting up Jobanpreet’s goal with a clever reverse pass.
Hardik led a rapid counterattack in the final minutes, passing to Akashdeep in open space, who easily scored into an empty net as Soorma had withdrawn their goalkeeper to push for a comeback.
Soorma struggled to convert their chances, especially from penalty corners, on a tough night for India captain Harmanpreet Singh, who had recently been nominated for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. Rudras’ defense, anchored by Lars Balk’s outstanding first-rushing, kept Harmanpreet at bay, denying him repeatedly in the second quarter despite numerous attempts and retakes.
There were moments of potential, with Pawan Rajbhar narrowly missing a deflection and Nicolas Keenan creating openings on the left flank. However, missed penalty corners and defensive mistakes ultimately led to their downfall.
The game ended with Soorma missing two more penalty corners, leaving Harmanpreet visibly frustrated. Despite the loss, Soorma showed promise with their ability to create opportunities and could bounce back if they improve their finishing in the next matches.
