Sport - Hockey   

Orissa prevails over Chandigarh

By Kirti Patil

Orissa's T. Pratima (right) scores her team's first goal off a cross from T. Bahamani (left) beating Chandigarh goalkeeper Geeta, in the 52nd senior women's National hockey championship in Lucknow on Monday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

LUCKNOW AUG. 25. Orissa booked a challenging quarterfinal against holders Railways when it defeated Chandigarh 4-2 in a stimulating final pool `C' league match, in the women's National hockey championship at the Dhyanchand Stadium here on Monday.

After Punjab and Karnataka qualified for the knock-out stage as the fifth and sixth teams for the 52nd edition of the championship, Orissa restored some pride for the `Chhota Nagpur' tribal region that extends from Jharkhand to Orissa.

Jharkhand, the National Games runners-up, exited when Karnataka defeated PEPSU 5-0 and ended with a better goal average. Both the teams had four points each, but Karnataka had plus five average against Jharkhand's plus three, in pool `G'.

Orissa needed just a draw to make through and it was helped by Chandigarh's weak right flank. As both the teams had won their first two league matches with generous margins, they preferred to open this crucial tie on a cautious note.

Chandigarh forward Prakash Chaudhary found little support to her exuberance. Prakash was riding high on her 12-goal spree including three hat-tricks against Bundelkhand. But right-out Jyoti Bali slowed the pace of every run Prakash made allowing Orissa defenders to regroup.

Chandigarh summarily missed its star striker Nishi Chauhan, who is doing duty for India in a junior international tournament in Japan. In the past, the combination of Prakash and Nishi have had put even a good team on the back-foot.

The wins against Bundelkhand and Uttaranchal came easy as both the teams were weak, but Orissa was the different story altogether. Nevertheless, the thin audience witnessed a keen tussle after a chain of lop-sided contests in this championship.

Right-in T. Jasinta made a good move in the 11th minute which fructified in a goal for Orissa. Chandigarh goalkeeper Geeta had been tested by Orissa front-line through several shots at the goal. But Jasinta's quick pass to her left was nicely collected by T. Bahamani and as Geeta rushed to stop her she crossed the ball to the waiting Pratima.

Once the lead was taken, Orissa grew in confidence while Chandigarh, but for Prakash, recoiled into a defensive mode. In the very next minute Bahamani missed a sitter when her stick hit the air above the ball. Then an unmarked Sumitra committed the same mistake, in the 12th minute.

On its third penalty corner, Orissa increased its lead to 2-0 Arjen Dadel's grounder. And, five minutes before the halftime Pratima again found the goal for 3-0 lead.

The change in the sides worked little bit for Chandigarh. Hard-working Prakash got her due in the 46th minute and then followed it up with yet another goal, which was a beauty.

Working from the mid-field to the front row, Prakash made a good run in the 54th minute along side Jyoti. Prakash beat two defenders but the Orissa goalkeeper, Amrita Tete sprawled in front of her. Prakash rose in the same action as she had fallen on the turf and struck a reverse flick into the goal for 3-2.

The time ran out quickly as Bahamani converted the sixth penalty corner Orissa earned, in the 62nd minute, and put the issue beyond the reach of Chandigarh.

Earlier, Karnataka spoiled Jharkhand's ambitions of making it to the quarterfinals with a 5-0 win against PEPSU. The Karnataka-Jharkhand match had ended in a 1-1 draw while Jharkhand had 4-1 win against PEPSU.

In the quarters, Jharkhand will take on a spirited Indian Universities side, which set aside last year's semifinalist, Mumbai, and Tamil Nadu from pool `E'.

Jaya Prabha struck twice while Swarnalatha, captain Lakshmishree C. and K. T. Sowmya had scored one each for the comfortable win.

In the morning, Punjab found little resistance from Maharashtra and streamrolled the westerners 8-0 to confirm its quarterfinal berth. Half-back Manpreet Kaur and striker Mohan Davinder Kaur scored two each as Punjab warmed up for the tougher competition that loomed ahead. Nonetheless, it meets a comparatively weak side in Delhi, in the quarterfinals.

* The results (league): Pool B: Himachal Pradesh 9 (Neeta, Dimple, Sunita, Alka 2 each, Premlata) beat Rajasthan 0.

Pool C: Orissa 4 (Pratima T 2, Arjen Dadel, Bahamani T) bt Chandigarh 2 (Prakash Chaudhary 2); Uttaranchal 5 (Tripti 3, Geetanjali, Lata Jeena) bt Bundelkhand 0.

Pool G: Karnataka 5 (Jaya Prabha 2, Swarnalatha, K. T. Sowmya, Lakshmishree C) bt PEPSU 0.

Pool H: Punjab 8 (Manpreet Kaur and Mohan Davinder Kaur 2 each, Baljit Kaur, Arun Bala, Vandana, Baljit Jr.) bt Maharashtra 0.

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