Northern Railway crowned Champions

Mumbai, Jan 13 : A sensational goal by Poonam with 10 seconds left for the final hooter gave underdogs Northern Railway the title with a 2-1 win over last year’s runners up Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, in the 35th All India Inter Railway Women’s Hockey Championships which recently concluded at the Mahindra Stadium in Mumbai.

RCF will rue the missed opportunities including a penalty stroke in the 50th minute of play by right half Rozalind Ralte who pushed the ball wide off the left post. In the hardlines match hosts Central Railway surprisingly beat Western by a 4-1 margin. Western led through a 17th minute goal by Anupa Barla but thereafter it was all Central with goals coming from Vandana Kataria (34, 45th), Saundarya (44th) and Kavita Vidyarthi (62nd).

RCF had been successful in translating their supremacy through a fine field goal by Anuradha Thokchom in the 23rd minute of play. Northern tried to turn the tide through incisive attack by the famed duo of Ritu Rani and Rani Rampal but it was a penalty corner which finally yielded them the equaliser in the 48th minute of play. It was Harpreet Kaur who capitalise on some lax marking by the rival defence. Her powerful shot went over RCF keeper Harmanjeet Kaur’s shoulders high into the net. The lost opportunity by RCF prompted the ultimate winners to attack more; but Harmanjeet forted them on a couple of occasions while Ritu Rani shot a reverse hit straight into her pads. Finally it was the reverse hit which gave them a title after four years. Poonam moving in swiftly from left hammered the ball from a narrow angle much to the joy of her team mates.

President of Central Railway Sports Association and SDGM A. K. Garekar was the Chief Guest at the prize distribution function. Also present were Hockey Secretary Rajiv Tyagi (OSD) and Eliza Nelson, Hockey Olympian and Ashok Shandilya, World Billiards champion.