The Hindu : Haryana, Punjab make merry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 20, 2002

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Haryana, Punjab make merry

By Kirti Patil

Haryana's striker Balwinder Kaur, who scored six goals, dribbles past Madhya Pradesh's custodian Neena in the National senior women's hockey championship in Jalandhar on Tuesday. — Photo: Sandeep Saxena

JALANDHAR MARCH 19.Centre forwards Mohan Davinder and Balwinder Kaur went on a scoring spree leading Punjab and Haryana, respectively, to resounding victories in the 51st Women's National hockey championship here on Tuesday.

Balwinder twice lost out on a hat-trick in her six-goal effort as Haryana crushed Madhya Pradesh 17-0 in a pool `D' match at the Olympian Surjit Stadium here in Burlton Park.

Taking a cue from her Haryana counterpart, Mohan Davinder scored five goals including a second half hat-trick, in Punjab's 10-0 pounding of Manipur in a pool `B' match.

Haryana's fast-paced display in the first half put the side 14-0 at half-time. Haryana scored its first goal through Jasjeet Kaur in the fourth minute and added three more goals in as many minutes to make it 4-0. Striker Balwinder Kaur combined extremely well with Kamala and Jasjeet as the trio wrecked havoc.

Balwinder twice failed to complete a hat-trick, with teammate Kiran Bala being the `spoilsport' on each occasion. Kiran ended up scoring four goals as she put the finishing touches to the moves set up by Kamala and Balwinder.

With the Madhya Pradesh players looking clueless, Haryana girls, apparently adhering to instructions from their bench, decided not to enhance the tally after scoring only thrice in the second session. Former international Kamala Mann (nee Dalal) scored her fourth and team's 17th goal. In the remaining 20 minutes, Haryana kept possession of the ball indulged in some passing-practice while Madhya Pradesh players looked on.

Having watched Railways make a sedate start on Monday, Haryana, coached by taskmaster Balwant Singh, showed that it was ready to take on any opposition. The National Games champion Haryana was now aiming to end Railways' 17-year winning streak. Also putting up an impressive performance was Punjab. Renu Bala drew the first blood when she converted the very first penalty corner. Then it was time for Mohan Davinder to score. On a pass from left winger Roohi Dhillon, Davinder went past two defenders and found the goal.

Manipur could hardly do anything as Punjab tried to emulate what its arch-rival, Haryana, had achieved a little earlier. Punjab managed four goals in the first half even as Manipur custodian M. Ibetombi worked overtime to stop the onslaught.

In the second half, Davinder found able support from Mukta Xalco and captain Rajwant Kaur. Davinder scored her second goal in 51st minute, putting Punjab 5-0 ahead. Rajwinder confidently sounded the boards on a penalty stroke before Davinder's hat-trick came about. She struck in the 55th, 62nd and 64th minute

Earlier, Mumbai, bronze medallist of the previous edition, defeated a hapless Tamil Nadu 6-0. Right winger Elina Christy struck a brace in the second half.

Both teams indulged in `dangerous' play and a player from each side was injured. This forced the umpires to the stop the match twice before the injured had to be carried out of the arena. Mumbai, mainly made of Western Railway players belonging to the tribal belt of Orissa and Jharkhand, were one-up on all counts. Internationals Kanti Baa and Fatima Kujur took control of the mid-field and fed the strikers, who did not disappoint.

The results: Mumbai 6 (Elina Christy 2, Kanti Baa, Paulina Surin, Laxmi Shree, Poonam Surin) beat Tamil Nadu 0; Haryana 17 (Balwinder 6, Kiran Bala 4, Kamala Mann 4, Ramneek Kaur, Simarjeet Kaur, Jasjeet Kaur) beat Madhya Pradesh 0; Punjab 10 (Mohan Davinder Kaur 5, Mukta Xalco 2, Rajwinder Kaur 2, Renu Bala) beat Manipur 0.

Wednesday's fixture: Railways v Jharkhand, Chandigarh v Karnataka, Air India v Madhya Pradesh, Delhi v Manipur.

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