Uttar Pradesh crash out of National Hockey Championship

LUCKNOW: It was end of the road for hosts Uttar Pradesh in the Senior Men’s National Hockey Championship (A division) as they lost to Hockey Odisha 2-4 in their last league match on Tuesday. Even a draw would have helped UP enter the quarter-finals from Pool A as both teams were locked on six points. However, the side led by former India star Danish Mujtaba looked offcolour and conceded two goals in the first two quarters.

Capitalising on the lapses in rival defence, Prasan Tirkey (15th) and Nitin Mukesh Tigga (25th) struck field goals to give Odisha early lead (2-0). Though UP tried to bounce back, striking a field goal in the 41st minute through Ajay Yadav from the right flank (1-2), Odisha scored their third goal within five minutes. This time, Prasad Kujur converted a penalty corner (3-1).

Exhibiting fine stick-work, UP again tried to make their presence felt in the do-or-die game, striking yet another field goal through Gopi Sonkar in the 51st minute (2-3). But Prasan Tirkey’s scintillating hit from top of the circle in the 55th minute dashed their hopes of a comeback (4-2).

Defending champions Railways, with 12 points, have already entered the quarters from Pool A.

From Pool B, Air India (10 pts) and last year’s runners-up Punjab and Sindh Bank (8 pts) made their way to the last- eight stage. Air India outclassed Haryana 3-1 on Tuesday.

Star-studded Petroleum Sports Promotion Board played out a 2-2 draw with Hockey Punjab to make the quarter-finals from Group C with 10 points. Punjab too booked their berth with eight points.

Comptroller and Auditor General of India, with eight points, and Hockey Chandigarh with seven points were the others to progress. The quarter-finals will take place on Thursday.

Quarter-final line-up: Railways vs Punjab and Sindh Bank (8.00 a.m); CAG vs Hockey Punjab (10.00 a.m); Air India vs Hockey Odisha (2.00 p.m); PSPB vs Hockey Chandigarh (4.00 p.m).