J hark hand, Ha ryan a in title clash
Jharkhand striker Subhani strikes a double vs Punjab; Haryana rally to beat Chandigarh
NEW DELHI: In-form striker Subha ni B hen gr as truck once in each half as Jharkhand pipped a spirited Punjab 2-1 to set up a title clash with Haryana in the girls’ hockey competition of the Khelo India School Games at Major D hy an Ch and National Stadium on Wednesday.
Earlier in the first semi-final, Haryana, trailing 0-2, staged a remarkable comeback to overpower fancied Chandigarh 4-3. Ha ryan a had beaten J hark hand 4-2 in thefirst league match of the competition.
Punjab and J hark hand played a fast and combative game worthy of a semi-final. It was a tense match as the teams battled it out for supremacy. In the end, it was Jharkhand who capitalised on the chances that came their way while Punjab were left ruing the opportunities they missed.
Punjab had the major share of the ball and their forwards dominated the midfield for most of the time but it was Jharkhand who took the lead in the 21 st minute as an unmarked Sub ha ni latched on to a cross, cut past a couple of defenders to send the ball home (1-0). The lead lasted barely six minutes as Punjab fought back to draw parity through captain Ba ljeetKa ur (1-1).
Jharkhand, while defending well, kept on making incisive foray sand three minutes before the final whistle, Subhani struck again to seal the match for her side.
Chandigarh squandered a twogoal lead as Ha ryan ar allied to emerge winners.
ODISHAOUSTUP
Fancied Odisha had to wage a grim battle before ousting Uttar Pradesh via penalty shootout to setup summit clash with Punjab in the boys’ hockey competition on Wednesday. The second semifinal was a one-sided affair with Punjab whip ping Chandigarh 5-2.