Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 22: Converting four out of the five penalties they got in the title clash, the Haryana players held their nerves in the dying moments of the game and snatched a thrilling victory by a solitary goal over the hosts Jammu and Kashmir to keep them away from the top slot by a whisker in the 20th Junior National Korfball Championship at Bakshi Stadium, here today.
Trailing by seven goals to four (7-4) in the first half, the J&K players dominated the second half and scored five goals against the three scored by Haryana, but these goals were not enough to take J&K to home as Haryana clinched a victory by ten goals to nine (10-9). Despite playing superbly in both the halves, the failure of converting the penalties into the goals cost J&K the match as they got eight penalties, out of which only two were converted into goals. For Haryana, Sandeep and Sonu displayed skill and showed extraordinary anticipation and reflexes to score 4 goals each, while for J&K, Harish was the top goal scorer, who made fabulous 3 goals. Tamana and Mohit scored 2 goals each and Muskan made one.
Earlier, in hardliner, Himachal Pradesh drubbed Bihar by thirteen goals to seven (13–7) and claimed the third place in the championship.
The 4-day National Championship was organized by J&K Korfball Association in collaboration with J&K State Sports Council and Korfball Federation in which 20 teams from the country participated.
Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, R S Chib was the chief guest on the occasion, who distributed prizes among the winners and runners-up teams.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Korfball game is a unique sport in which male and female play jointly and has recognition at world level.
Referring to development in sports sector, the Minister said that the present government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken up various mega and micro projects to facilitate the sports persons of the state. He said Chief Minister and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Makan are showing keenness in promotion of sports in the State, adding that development of sports infrastructure and holding of national events in the state will go a long way in expanding sports activities across the state.
Among others, Secretary, J&K State Sports Council, Dalip Thussu, Secretary General, Korfball Federation of India, Dinkar, Deputy Director, Youth Services and Sports, Ashok Kumar, former Secretary, J&K State Sports Council, Sheikh Fazal Ahmed, Working President, J&K Korfball Association, Tarlok Singh, Secretary Maharashtra, Pravin Manwatkar, Secretary Rajasthan, IP Tikiwal, Secretary MP, Sumer Roop Singh, Secretary Haryana, Ashok Kumar, Secretary HP, BR Suman, besides district secretary Budgam, Manjeet Singh, Secretary Srinagar, Gulzar Ahmad Ahanger, Secretary Baramulla and Gulzar Ahmad Lone were also present on the occasion.
The tournament was organized by J&K Korfball Association J&K in collaboration with J&K State Sports Council, under the aegis of Korfball Federation of India. The event was held under the overall supervision of Manjeet Singh, general secretary, J&K Korfball Association.
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