Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, May 13: The teams are gaining momentum as the players are displaying extraordinary hockey skills before marching towards the semifinals of the Hockey India 5th Sub Junior National Hockey Championship 2015 (Men) ‘B’ Division at KK Hakhu Astroturf Stadium , here.
Earlier, In Pool C, Hockey Patiala beat Citizen Hockey XI by 2-0 and entered the last four stage, while the other two teams are Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association and Hockey Madhya Pradesh, who have already qualified and the fourth team will be decided tomorrow through penalty shoot-out between Chandigarh Olympic Association and Hockey Bihar.
The day started on a winning note for Chandigarh Olympic Association who edge past Hockey Jammu And Kashmir 12-1.The second match of the day witnessed a victory for Hockey Patiala over Citizen Hockey XI by 2-0. In the last and the third match of the day it was Hockey Bihar who stood successful in beating Vidarbha Hockey Association 20-0.
In the Pool D match, Chandigarh Olympic Association thrashed Hockey Jammu & Kashmir 12-1, which was possible due to an astounding four goals by Sanjay and hat-tricks by Hashim and Captain Sukhman Singh. Chandigarh drew first blood in the 17th minute when Sharanjit Singh scored the first goal. Chandigarh did not give any breathing room to Jammu and Kashmir and scored three goals in 20th, 22nd and 23rd minutes taking the score to 4-0. Jammu & Kashmir renewed their intensity which led to a successful conversion of a penalty corner by Suraj Singh Jasrotia. In the extra minutes of the first half, Chandigarh scored again by Hashim to bring the score to 5-1. Chandigarh increased their lead to 8-0 in 41 and 46th minutes by conversions of penalty corners by Hashim and Sanjay. Jammu & Kashmir fought back but was no match for Chandigarh’s well thought out strategy. Chandigarh Olympic Association decimated Hockey Jammu & Kashmir by three field goals in 49th, 53rd and 58th minutes by Maninder Singh and Sanjay and an efficient conversion of penalty corner in 66th minute by Hashim taking the final score line to 12-1.
In the Pool C match, Hockey Patiala beat Citizen Hockey XI by 2-0 which was possible due to brilliant field goals by Rahul and Sandeep Kumar. Lady luck smiled on Hockey Patiala, when during the 5th minute, Rahul outfoxed the opponent’s defence, to score a magnificent field goal. Citizen Hockey intensified their efforts to break through Patiala’s defence but failed to equalise in the first half. In the second half, Hockey Patiala maintaining their intensity, found an opening in the 52nd minute when Sandeep Kumar skilfully dribbled past the defenders and scored a beautiful field goal doubling their lead. Eventually, Hockey Patiala won the match by 2-0.
In the last Pool B match of the day, Hockey Bihar nailed down Vidarbha Hockey Association by a mammoth margin of 20-0 with the help of Binit Ekka’s marvellous eight goals, Sunil Mundu’s spectacular four goals and Anthony Mudu’s brilliant hat-trick. Bihar dominated the match from the first minute and was leading by 12-0 after two quarters. Vidarbha failed to catch-up the high-level skills of Bihar and they eventually lost the match by a huge margin of 0-20.
In tomorrow’s fixture, Dadra & Nagar Haveli Association will take on winner of Pool D in the first semifinal at 9 am, whilein another semifinal, Hockey Madhya Pradesh will lock horns with Hockey Patiala at 4:30 pm.
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