Sonal’s four gives UP girls a flying start at nationals

Spirited Uttar Pradesh were off to a flying start at the Hockey India 7th Junior National Championship 2017 Women ‘A’ Division, scripting a facile 7-1 win against Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd in Bhopal on Friday.

Playing true to their reputation, UP girls lived up to the expectations and went on winning the Pool A league game even after trailing by a solitary goal in the early minutes of play.

The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd were the first to strike through Resham Mahadik, whoscored in the very second minute to give them the lead. But, the lead didn’t long last and thereafter Uttar Pradesh girls seized the initiative.

Leading from the front was Sonal Tiwari, who struck a goal in all four quarters, including the first one in the seventh minute (4-1). Mumtaz Khan’s brace (17th, 32nd) ensured team’s win then.

Earlier, in Pool C’s opening game of the day, Hockey Karnataka beat Hockey Coorg 6-0. U Shalini was the star of the game, scoring three goals for Hockey Karnataka.

In Pool D, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy beat Hockey Maharashtra 8-0. Three goals by captain Karishma Singh (46th, 51st, 65th) and a brace by Sadhna Sengar (59th, 61st) capped off a clinical performance that gave Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy the three points.

Sports Authority of India put in a superlative performance to beat Delhi Hockey 7-0 in their Pool C game. A brace each by Lalremsiami Zote and Anu Raj fashioned Sports Authority of India’s comfortable victory.

Hockey Patiala and Hockey Chandigarh played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in Pool A. After a goal less first half, Mitali opened the scoring for Hockey Patiala in the 39th minute (1-0).

Hockey Patiala held on to the lead for a period of the game, but in the end their resistance was broken, when Kirandeep Kaur equalised for Hockey Chandigarh with a penalty corner conversion in the 56th minute. A lack of clear cut opportunities for either team meant they split the points.

PLAYING TRUE TO THEIR REPUTATION, UP GIRLS LIVED UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS AND WENT ON WINNING THE POOL A LEAGUE GAME EVEN AFTER TRAILING BY A SOLITARY GOAL IN THE EARLY MINUTES OF PLAY