Date:08/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/08/stories/2005070810762000.htm

Sport - Hockey

Orissa toys with hapless Karnataka

Kirti Patil

NEW DELHI: Orissa posted a baker's dozen to outclass Karnataka, while PEPSU defeated Chhattisgarh 6-0 in their respective league matches in the 53rd National women's hockey championship at the Shivaji Stadium here on Thursday. The results helped Orissa and PEPSU to qualify for the Federation Cup.

The top eight teams at the Nationals get to play in the Federation Cup. Orissa, PEPSU and two other teams will join the four semifinalists — Railways, Haryana, Mumbai and Jharkhand. Uttar Pradesh, with nine points from six matches, is a strong contender from Pool `A'. Air India, which plays Orissa on Friday, will have to win by a margin of 12 goals to better Uttar Pradesh's goal average. From Pool `B', Delhi needs to beat Chhattisgarh on Friday to make it ahead of the out-of-form Indian Universities.

Unlucky

Orissa was unlucky to be drawn in the pool comprising Railways and Haryana. It is the nursery of hockey so to say with the most of the top teams recruiting players from Orissa.

In the league, Orissa lost only to Railways and Haryana and has won three matches convincingly. On Thursday, Orissa went on the goal binge after testing Karnataka for just about 10 minutes. Orissa won 13-1.

Striker Asima Kispotta found the breakthrough in the 11th minute and then there was no stopping Orissa. Jasinta Toppo and Sangita Minz chanced on the wide gaps left by the Karnataka defence and scored three goals apiece. Pratima Tirkey, Asima and skipper Nilima Kujur scored two goals each leaving Karnataka in disarray.

Sangita completed the winning tally with a fine effort. She grabbed the ball from the middle of the ground and waded through five defenders, tapped down the rising ball before slotting it home on the run. Nirupa Padmaiah scored the lone goal for Karnataka.

PEPSU beats Chhattisgarh

In Pool `B', PEPSU, the Patiala and East Punjab State Union, defeated lowly Chhattisgarh 6-0 with Arun Bala and Manpreet Kaur scoring twice. PEPSU finished its engagements with six points from five matches.

In another match in the same pool, the Universities team had a horrid time against Delhi. After a goalless first half, Babita Khatri put Delhi ahead in the 39th minute. Universities, the runner-up of the last Nationals, had to wait till the 55th minute when Rajnesh Mudgil converted the seventh penalty corner her team earned. In fact it was the 200th goal scored in the championship.

The results: Pool A: Orissa 13 (Asima Kispotta 11th and 45th, Nilima Kujur 14th and 59th, Jasinta Toppo 19th, 25th and 44th, Sangita Minz 41st, 58th and 60th, Pratima Tirkey 49th and 57th, Ejren Dadel 52nd) bt Karnataka 1 (Nirupa Padmaiah 33rd).

Pool B: Delhi 1 (Babita Khatri 39th) drew with Indian Universities 1 (Rajnesh Mudgil 55th).

PEPSU 6 (Arun Bala 28th and 69th, Vandana 34th, Manpreet Kaur 47th and 49th, Jiwan Jyoti 59th) bt Chhattisgarh 0.