MP win 4th Hockey Sub- Junior Women National Championship

New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy defeated Jharkhand 5-2 in the finals of he 4th Hockey India Sub-Junior Women National Hockey Championship (Division A) held at Pune, Maharashtra on Tuesday.

In the final’s match played between Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy and Hockey Jharkhand, the opening goal of the match came from Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy’s Preeti Dubey as early as in the 2nd minute of the game. Two quick goals collaborated by Pratibha Arya and Preeti Dubey in the 17th and 22nd minute respectively indicated the game to be in favour of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy. The score stood at 3-0 until the whistle blew signalling the end of first half.

In the 2nd half of the game, Pinki Ekka, in the 40th minute, managed to strike the first goal for Hockey Jharkhand. It was soon countered by a field goal coming in by Preeti Dubey, in the 45th minute. Nisha Rani Aind brought Jharkhand back in the game by putting the ball in the net in the 49th minute and reduced the score to 4-2. However, the efforts put in by Hockey Jharkhand failed to match the level as that of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, as the final goal of the match by Sandhana Sengar of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy in the 52nd minute and sealed a sensational 5-2 victory in the game and snatched the 1st position in the championship.

In the hard line match, played between Chandigarh Olympic Association and Haryana to fight for the 3rd and 4th position in the championship, both the teams faced a strong struggle, as they tried numerous times to strike the opening goal of the match but couldn’t thrive. At the end of the first half the scores stood at 0-0.

The first goal of the match came from the stick of Shalu Mann of Chandigarh Olympic Association in the 37th minute of the game. Captain Saroj of Chandigarh Olympic Association fruitfully converted a penalty corner into a goal in the 44th minute. Jyoti of Haryana stroked a penalty corner in the 53rd minute of the match, which turned out to be the first and only goal from Haryana. Manisha of Chandigarh Olympic Association transformed another penalty corner into a stunning goal the very next minute and the final scores stood at 3-1 indicating a well deserved win for Chandigarh Olympic Association over Hockey Haryana. Hence, Chandigarh Olympic Association bagged the 3rd position in the championship, leaving behind Haryana to settle for the 4th position.

LIST OF PERFORMERS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Best Goal Keeper – Jharkhand – Alfa Kerketta

2. Best Defender – Madhya Pradesh – Neeraj Rana

3. Best Forward – Haryana – Ekta Kaushik

4. Best Half- Jharkhand – Sitamani Topno

5. Promising Player of the Tournament – Haryana – Mahima Choudhary

6. Promising player of Maharashtra – Akshata Dekhale


Results of the day:

FINALS – Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy 5 Preeti Dubey (2, 22 and 45 min), Pratibha Arya (17 min) and Sandhana Sengar (52 min) Vs. Hockey Jharkhand 2 Pinki Ekka (40 min) and Nisha Rani Aind (49 min)

HARD LINE – Chandigarh Olympic Association 3 Shalu Mann (37 min), Saroj (44 min), Manisha (54 min) Vs. Hockey Haryana 1 Jyoti (53 min).