Goal-glut marks opening day
A goal-rush marked the opening day of the first Hockey India five-a-side senior national championship at the Shiv Chattrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi (Pune) on Wednesday with a combined total of 55 strikes being recorded.
In the opening game of the men’s championship, Uttar Pradesh Hockey beat Association of Indian Universities 14-4 in a Pool A encounter.
It took just one minute for the first goal to arrive, Mohd Shariq firing UP into the lead. A minute later Rahul Kumar Rajbhar doubled the lead. From there they never let AIU back into the match, extending the lead through Om Pal (6’, 11’, 29’), Dhananjay Singh (6’, 16’), Deepak Singh (10’, 13’), Monu Rajbhar (14’, 19’, 27’) and Raj Kumar (15’, 24’). AIU’s goals came from Vishal (5’, 29’), Ajpal SIngh (18’) and Sukhjit Singh (26’).
In another game, Hockey Jharkhand beat Hockey Odisha 5-3 in Pool B.
The opening goal came from Jharkhand’s Noyel Topno in the 15th minute. They doubled the lead in the 18th via Ulsan Mundu, before Topno got his second in the 20th minute.
Odisha were in contention though with goals by Stanli Minz (19’, 22’). Mundu got his second goal in the final period (26’), before Budu Tuti (28’) scored a fifth for his team to put the result beyond doubt. Alok Barla’s 30th minute goal was a consolation for Odisha.
In the opening match of the women’s event, AIU beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey 12-2 in Pool A. Goals for Association of Indian Universities were scored by Pooja Rani (1’), Beant Kaur (2’, 7’, 25), Reena Rani (7’, 12’, 21, 22’), Priya (17’), Darshana Rani (29’, 30’) and Pushpa Rani (30’). UP Hockey’s goals were scored by Shreya Singh (5’) and Siddhi Singh (28’).
The second game was a competitive encounter between Hockey Jharkhand and Hockey Odisha in Pool B which the latter won 8-7.
Odisha shot into a 4-1 lead at the end of the first period courtesy of goals from Jira Ekka (1’), Priyanka Ekka (2’, 6’) and Khusbu Kujur (9’). Jharkhand’s goal was scored by Pramila Soreng (8’). The two teams exchanged two goals each in the second period, before Jharkhand stormed back with four goals in the final period to ensure a tight finish. Odisha held for an 8-7 victory though.