Jhansi, Basti and Agra storm into QFs of UP State Jr. Championship

Sefai, August 17: Spirited Jhansi, Basti and Agra Regions stormed into the quarterfinals of the State Junior Men Hockey Championship, being conducted jointly by the UP Sports Directorate and Uttar Pradesh Hockey here today.

Jhansi outplayed Varanasi Hockey Hostel 8-7 via tiebreaker after the two teams locked in 3-3 draw at the end of the regulation time at the hockey astro turf. The Basti team, studded with a number of former inmates of the hockey hostel, didn’t show any mercy against Rampur Hockey Hostel boys while scripting a facile 7-2 win. Sanjay and Arjun scored two goals each, where as Gaurav, Sushil and Shatrughan shared three goals between them.

Earlier, Agra boys had to face a tough time against Mirzapur men in the first match of the day before winning the 70-minute duel by 2-0. Vineetkant struck both the goals in the second half of play.

Day’s last pre-quarter between favourites Lucknow Hockey Hostel and Azamgarh Region remained incomplete after a heavy rain disrupted the proceedings in the second half. Hostel was leading by 2-0 at the half time when rain stopped play. Sharad and Imran were the scorers. The remaining second half of match will be played on Saturday morning. It would be followed by quarterfinals.