The Hindu : TN retains title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 25, 2003

Sport

Sport - Hockey

TN retains title

CHITTOOR AUG. 24. For someone, who was on the sidelines right through, Raja Rajan turned out to be the unexpected hero for Tamil Nadu. This substitute goalkeeper's two smart saves in the tie-breaker and then another one in the sudden death saw the defending champion retain the Nutrine Mahalacto 18th senior South Zone hockey championship for men with a hard-fought 4-3 win over a spirited Karnataka in the final at the DSA Masonical Grounds here on Sunday evening.

With the two teams locked one-all at the end of regulation time, the issue was extended into the extra time, applying the golden rule. Even that failed to break the deadlock. In the tie-breaker, Raja Rajan brought off two fine saves against Dhananjay Madhik, Pradeep Singh while, Harpreet Singh hit one out for Karnataka.

For Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan hit the vertical even as Aflred and Asser, Ramesh Babu's hits were stopped by the Karnataka's goal-keeper Sunny Samuel.

In the sudden death, after A. Kumar slotted the first effort in, the Raja Rajan stopped with his left-leg a hard hit from Dhananjay Madhik, sparking off celebrations in the Tamil Nadu camp.

Ironically, Karnataka's key performers Madhik turned out to be the culprit missing both his penalty-hits.

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