Date:16/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/16/stories/2008111657641600.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Railways outplays Delhi, clinches fourth straight title

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: K. Pichumani

Unstoppable: Railways’ Poornima in action against Delhi in the final.

CHENNAI: Railways bagged its fourth straight title with a 44-29 victory over Delhi in the final of the senior National women’s handball championship at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.

A sturdy Railways team (four of them play for India) imposed itself on a team that swung between mediocre and good at the best of times.

Delhi made valiant efforts to match its opponent in speed and co-ordination. Preeti, Varuni and Manisha understood their positions and played accordingly. Where it fell short was in scoring. Varuni, Delhi’s star scorer just could not get her act together as she was not allowed to do so.

She was stopped by a defence, whose work throughout was exemplary.

Railways’ Anamika’s alacrity and doggedness were the features of the match. The defence could not stop her or get back the ball from her. Her 10 goals, definitely, was the highpoint of the match.

Ten minutes into the second session, Delhi, which was trailing all along fought with new-found energy. Varuni was back to her usual self. Having trailed by just five points — 24-19 — Delhi was suddenly swept away in a matter of 10 minutes.

Anita, Mathi, Sangita and Purnima stepped up the momentum and enhanced the lead to 10 points, which was way beyond Delhi’s reach.

T.P.M. Mohideen Khan, State Sports and Environment Minister, gave away the prizes.

The results:

Final: Railways 44 (Anamika 10) bt Delhi 29; (Third place play-off): AIU bt Maharashtra 47-33.