UP split points with Karnataka, but still on top in Pool C
LUCKNOW : Favourites Uttar Pradesh played a 2-2 draw with Hockey Karnataka on Tuesday, but maintained their top position in Group C of the 9th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2019 (A Division) at Aurangabad.
Despite leading by a solitary goal in the first half, Uttar Pradesh couldn’t stop Hockey Karnataka from finishing the game at tied two-all and shared the points. Uttar Pradesh now have four points, followed by Delhi and Gangpur Odisha.
Sharda Nand Tiwari (25’) and Shivam Anand (40’) scored for Uttar Pradesh Hockey, while Ajith V.M. (37’) and Sathwik HR (51’) scored for Hockey Karnataka.
Exhibiting some fine form of stick-work in the first half, Uttar Pradesh dominated the proceedings. Sharda Nand Tiwari put Uttar Pradesh ahead, converting a penalty corner in the 25th minute (1-0). But after a change in the ends, Hockey Karnataka restored parity through Ajith VM, who shot the ball home from the right flank (1-all). Shivam Anand scored the second goal for Uttar Pradesh in the 40th minute, sounding the board after dodging a bunch of rival defenders (2-1), but nine minutes before the hooter, Hockey Karnataka was awarded a penalty stroke and Sathwik HR made no mistake in sounding the board (2-all). Now, UP play Gangpur Odisha in their next match on Wednesday at 1.00p.m. In other matches of the day, Hockey Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, Hockey Odisha and Hockey Bihar registered victories in their respective Pool matches.
In Pool A, Hockey Chandigarh beat Hockey Himachal by 7-2 to register their second win of the competition. Goals for Hockey Chandigarh were scored by Hapreet Singh (9’, 25’), Amandeep (28’, 57’), Yashdeep Goyel (19’), Sukhjeet Singh (38’) and Sukhman Singh (45’), while Vashu Dev (40’) and Charanjeet Singh (54’) scored for Hockey Himachal.
In Pool B, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy registered their first win, beating The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd. 6-1. Vikas Rajak (4’, 43’), Mohd. Alishan (16’, 20’), Priyobata Talem (10’) and Adarsh Hardua (23’) scored the goals for Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, while The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd.’s only goal of the match was scored in the 53rd minute by Mohit Kathoute. Hockey Odisha too had their first win in Pool D, notching up a thrilling solitary goal win against Punjab & Sind Bank. The only goal of the match was scored by captain Krishna Tirkey scored for Hockey Odisha through a penalty corner.